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Clashes as Hardliners Demand Missing Pakistanis Face Blasphemy Charge

by Reuters

   KARACHI --

   Hardline religious protesters threw stones at supporters of five
   missing Pakistani activists on Thursday and demanded that police charge
   the missing men under a blasphemy law that carries a mandatory death
   sentence.

   The liberal activists, who have posted blogs criticizing the political
   influence of the military and speaking up for the rights of religious
   minorities, have all gone missing separately since Jan. 4, and it is
   unclear what happened to them.

   Shortly after their disappearances, blasphemy allegations against them
   appeared on social media and in a complaint to police.

   Critics of Pakistan's blasphemy laws say they have long been used by
   individuals and religious groups to settle disputes.

   About 100 members of a little-known religious group, Tehreek Labaik Ya
   Rasool Allah, arrived at the local press club in the port city of
   Karachi and started hurling stones at people gathered there to support
   the missing activists.

   They chanted slogans asking police to file blasphemy cases against the
   missing activists and carried banners that read:

   "Beheading is the punishment of blasphemers."

   The activists' supporters were forced to withdraw into a nearby
   building.

   "We persuaded the religious activists to withdraw," police officer
   Aurengzeb Khan said. "Their leader then held prayers for the prosperity
   of Islam and called on the members to leave."

   Friends, family and supporters of all five men deny they have
   blasphemed, and have denounced the campaign to press that charge, which
   could endanger their lives were they to reappear.

   The Interior Ministry said on Thursday that police had not registered a
   blasphemy case, although police in Islamabad confirmed on Wednesday
   that a formal complaint had been made by a lawyer.

   "There is absolutely no truth to reports that cases have been filed
   against the bloggers," the ministry said. Interior Minister Nisar Ali
   Khan was quoted last week as saying the government was not responsible
   for the disappearances.