Mumbai (AsiaNews) - Hundreds of activists of the Christian Front Punjab (Cfp) held a hunger strike and protest on the Indo-Pakistani border, in the town of Attari, to demonstrate against the death penalty decreed for Asia Bibi, the Pakistani Christian accused of blasphemy . The members of Cfp have asked the government to withdraw the sentence, and the international community to put pressure on Pakistan to abolish the law.
The President of Cfp, Lawarance Chaudhary, handed over a memorandum to the local authorities, to be sent to the High Commission of Pakistan. The document calls on the Pakistani president and the justice minister to reconsider the situation in Asia Bibi, who was accused and convicted thanks to the pressure of powerful local leaders.
Bishop P.K. Samantaroy, the Diocese of Amritasr, has called for the abolition of the blasphemy law. The prelate told AsiaNews: "The blasphemy law is used methodically to resolve personal questions, and other issues. We, the Church of North India campaign for this infamous blasphemy law to be eradicated. And that is why we participate in the demonstration at Attari. Samantaroy”. The bishop added: "We have raised this argument with various Christian institutions throughout the world, to campaign for Asia Bibi and to put pressure on the Pakistani government about the law."