Release International

President Asif Ali Zardari has said his Government is keen to solve the problem of Pakistan's blasphemy laws in a move welcomed by Christians.

At a meeting with the Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams in London, President Zardari said he was very conscious of the need 'to urgently address the issue... with a
view to preventing the misuse of the blasphemy law in future'. Mr Zardari acknowledged that the blasphemy laws – section 295/C of Pakistan's Penal Code – have been exploited by extremists to attack religious minorities, as well as Muslims. Release International has campaigned against this legislation.
The president's promise comes in the wake of extremist attacks on Gojra and Korian villages in Punjab after Christians there were accused of blasphemy (Prayer Alert, August 11, 2009). Prayer Alert reported on September 22 that Falish Masih from Punjab was found hanged in his cell just hours after he was detained on blasphemy charges.
Release staff and Sohail Johnson of our partner Sharing Life Ministry Pakistan recently visited Sandal Gulsher (also known as Bibi), 20, who was detained a year ago on blasphemy charges (Prayer Alert, November 25, 2008). They prayed with her in Jhang District jail, Punjab, and gave her some essentials such as food. 'It was very painful to see Sandal in prison,' said a member of the Release team. 'We could only touch her fingers with our fingers through the bars.'

(Sources: AsiaNews, Release International, SLMP, The Archbishop of Canterbury's office)

• Pray that politicians will act fast now to repeal or amend the blasphemy laws.
• Pray for Christian prisoners such as Sandal Gulsher accused of blasphemy. Pray for Sandal's acquittal: her faith is strong but she is struggling emotionally.

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