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11 January 2011
Last updated at 00:55 ET
The son of slain Pakistani leader Benazir Bhutto has condemned those who praised the assassination of Punjab provincial governor Salman Taseer.
Mr Taseer was killed last week by one of his bodyguards for supporting proposed reforms to the blasphemy law.
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said those supporting the killer were "the real blasphemers".
Meanwhile, an influential Islamist leader has criticised Pope Benedict XVI for demanding the repeal of the law.
Jamaat-i-Islami party's Liaquat Baloch said it was "open interference in Pakistan's internal and religious affairs".
On Monday, the Pope called on Pakistan to repeal the blasphemy law, which can carry a death sentence for insulting the Prophet Muhammad.
He said the law served as a pretext for acts of injustice against minorities.
'Covert blasphemers' "Because of you, the message of Islam is distorted in the eyes of the world," news agency AFP quoted Mr Bhutto Zardari as saying.
Mr Bhutto Zardari, whose father is Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari, was addressing mourners at the Pakistan High Commission in London on Monday evening.
Continue reading the main story “Start Quote
"Those who attack my religion, specially those who corrupt its peaceful message, you are what I call covert blasphemers and you will be defeated," he said.
"This will be our jihad," he added.
Mr Bhutto Zardari assured Christians and other minorities in Pakistan that they would be defended.
"We will defend you. For those who wish to harm you for a crime you did not commit, they will have to go through me first," he said.
Mr Taseer's assassination last Tuesday has exposed the deep division within the Pakistani society.
At his first court appearance in Islamabad last week, the alleged assassin Malik Mumtaz Hussein Qadri was showered with rose petals by sympathisers, including a number of lawyers.
On Sunday up to 50,000 people held a rally in support of the blasphemy law in Karachi city.
'Clash of civilisation' Meanwhile, the Pope's statement calling for a repeal of the controversial law has drawn a strong reaction from the Islamists.
"The Pope's statement is an open invitation for clash of civilisations and a bid to plunge the entire world into a deadly war," Pakistan's official news agency APP quoted Liaquat Baloch as saying.
"The Pope's assertion had exposed the evil designs of the West against the blasphemy law and he also spread a wave of hatred and anguish among Muslims all over the world."
Mr Baloch said Pakistan would not allow any tampering with the blasphemy law.
"The mass rally in Karachi on this issue on Sunday should serve as a warning to the forces against any amendment in the law," he added.
The Pope made his remarks in a new year address to diplomats accredited to the Vatican.
"I once more encourage the leaders of that country [Pakistan] to take the necessary steps to abrogate that law," he said.
"The tragic murder of the governor of Punjab shows the urgent need to make progress in this direction," he added.
Pakistan's blasphemy law returned to the spotlight in November when Christian woman Asia Bibi was sentenced to death for allegedly insulting the Prophet Muhammad. She denies the charge.
Mr Taseer angered hardline clerics by visiting her in jail and by supporting proposed reforms to the legislation.
His alleged assassin Qadri said he had been angered by Mr Taseer's stance over the blasphemy laws.
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Mr Taseer was killed last week by one of his bodyguards for supporting proposed reforms to the blasphemy law.
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said those supporting the killer were "the real blasphemers".
Meanwhile, an influential Islamist leader has criticised Pope Benedict XVI for demanding the repeal of the law.
Jamaat-i-Islami party's Liaquat Baloch said it was "open interference in Pakistan's internal and religious affairs".
On Monday, the Pope called on Pakistan to repeal the blasphemy law, which can carry a death sentence for insulting the Prophet Muhammad.
He said the law served as a pretext for acts of injustice against minorities.
'Covert blasphemers' "Because of you, the message of Islam is distorted in the eyes of the world," news agency AFP quoted Mr Bhutto Zardari as saying.
Mr Bhutto Zardari, whose father is Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari, was addressing mourners at the Pakistan High Commission in London on Monday evening.
Continue reading the main story “Start Quote
"The Pope's statement is an open invitation for clash of civilisations ”
End Quote
Liaquat Baloch
Jamaat-i-Islami leader
"Those who attack my religion, specially those who corrupt its peaceful message, you are what I call covert blasphemers and you will be defeated," he said.
"This will be our jihad," he added.
Mr Bhutto Zardari assured Christians and other minorities in Pakistan that they would be defended.
"We will defend you. For those who wish to harm you for a crime you did not commit, they will have to go through me first," he said.
Mr Taseer's assassination last Tuesday has exposed the deep division within the Pakistani society.
At his first court appearance in Islamabad last week, the alleged assassin Malik Mumtaz Hussein Qadri was showered with rose petals by sympathisers, including a number of lawyers.
On Sunday up to 50,000 people held a rally in support of the blasphemy law in Karachi city.
'Clash of civilisation' Meanwhile, the Pope's statement calling for a repeal of the controversial law has drawn a strong reaction from the Islamists.
"The Pope's statement is an open invitation for clash of civilisations and a bid to plunge the entire world into a deadly war," Pakistan's official news agency APP quoted Liaquat Baloch as saying.
"The Pope's assertion had exposed the evil designs of the West against the blasphemy law and he also spread a wave of hatred and anguish among Muslims all over the world."
Mr Baloch said Pakistan would not allow any tampering with the blasphemy law.
"The mass rally in Karachi on this issue on Sunday should serve as a warning to the forces against any amendment in the law," he added.
The Pope made his remarks in a new year address to diplomats accredited to the Vatican.
"I once more encourage the leaders of that country [Pakistan] to take the necessary steps to abrogate that law," he said.
"The tragic murder of the governor of Punjab shows the urgent need to make progress in this direction," he added.
Pakistan's blasphemy law returned to the spotlight in November when Christian woman Asia Bibi was sentenced to death for allegedly insulting the Prophet Muhammad. She denies the charge.
Mr Taseer angered hardline clerics by visiting her in jail and by supporting proposed reforms to the legislation.
His alleged assassin Qadri said he had been angered by Mr Taseer's stance over the blasphemy laws.
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