LAHORE, Dec 12: The Sunni Ittehad Council announces that blasphemy law is a religious matter and no foreign pressure will be tolerated in this regard.

Speaking at a press conference here on Sunday, council chairman Fazle Karim said sacrilege of prophets was an offence that could not be pardoned. “As the issue is religious, no pressure from the West will be tolerated.”

He said no one was authorised to amend the law and all schools of thought were unanimous on death punishment for blasphemy.

He denied the impression that the Holy Quran was silent on the punishment for blasphemy of Prophet (PBUH). “There are at least 20 verses in the Quran about protection of the honour of prophethood.”He said the council would continue its movement until the government assured that it would not amend the blasphemy law.

Meanwhile, several demonstrations were held in the city to protest moves to amend the blasphemy law, and possible extradition of Aasia Masih.

The Jamaat-i-Islami staged a demonstration for safeguarding the blasphemy law and against the reformed general sales tax on Multan Road.

City Jamaat amir Ameerul Azeem said blasphemy law was part and parcel of Muslims’ life while the rulers wanted to amend it to appease their foreign masters.

He said no Muslim could allow any amendment to the law and would be ready to sacrifice his life for protecting it.

He said the Jamaat would bring the masses out if the rulers tried to impose the controversial RGST.

Deaf and dumb wing of Jamaatul Dawa held a protest demonstration at Chauburgi against attempts to amend the blasphemy law and extradition of Aasia Masih to some western country.

Wing chief Abdul Hameed Bhutta said they would sacrifice their lives if any move was initiated to amend the law.

World Pasban Khatam-e-Nabuwat activists held a demonstration outside the press club and condemned the increasing acts of terrorism.