|PIC1|National Council of Churches in Pakistan (NCCP) has welcomed Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani's pledge to review blasphemy laws that have oppressed Christians in the predominantly Muslim nation.

“It is a surprising and cheerful news. No political party or leader has made such a statement from years,” Suhail Akhtar of NCCP, told Christian Today.

Prime Minister Gilani promised Christians Thursday that the government would review blasphemy laws that balk religious harmony in that country. The statement was made in the backdrop of brutal violence on a Christian neighbourhood in Gojra city where eight Christians were killed and dozen homes burned.

“A committee comprising constitutional experts, the minister for minorities, the religious affairs minister and other representatives will discuss the laws detrimental to religious harmony to sort out how they could be improved,” Gilani told a gathering in Gojra, according to the Associated Press.

Christians have been attacked, pastors and priests arrested, women raped and homes burnt under the pretext of supposed blasphemy. Christian leaders - both Catholic and Protestant - demanded the repeal of the blasphemy law during a rally held in Lahore last week.

Section 295-C of the Pakistani penal code makes it illegal to make derogatory remarks against the Prophet Muhammed and is punishable by death or life imprisonment.

Christians, however, feel they are the victims of false blasphemy charges and that the law is being misused by fundamental Muslims to persecute minorities.

Asma Jahangir, chairwoman of Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, has also welcomed Gilani's statement.

“It is good to hear Prime Minister Gilani saying this ... In my view the blasphemy law should be repealed forthwith,” she was quoted by the AP saying.