U.S. State Department Official Will Discuss Blasphemy Law During Visit To Pakistan

Dawn yesterday reported that U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy and Human Rights Michael H. Posner is visiting Pakistan this week.  One topic he plans to raise with the government, opposition leaders and civil society groups is U.S. concern over discriminatory or abusive use of Pakistan's blasphemy law. In an interview with the paper, Posner said: "We are reluctant to prescribe changes and alternatives. But we do believe that people should be free to practice their religion." Posner said he does not want to specifically focus on the controversial case of Aasia Bibi, a Christian woman who has been sentenced to death for blasphemy. But, he said: "We believe in the due process of law, i.e. a person is presumed innocent until proven guilty."