Pakistani Christians, Muslims protest blasphemy law abuses

About a thousand activists, religious leaders and ordinary citizens, both Christians and Muslims, came ‎together in a candlelight vigil in Faisalabad, Pakistan, to remember a young Christian couple that was ‎burnt alive Nov. 4 near Lahore.  They demanded the government take "immediate steps" to stop abuses ‎of the country’s controversial blasphemy laws, and punish those found guilty of making false ‎accusations out of revenge or in order to settle personal scores.   They also demanded the government ‎take charge of security in order to prevent outbreaks of mob violence and attacks incited by local ‎religious leaders and extremist groups.  The demonstrators remembered the tragic murder of Shehzad ‎Masih, 27 and his wife Shama Bibi, 24‎, of the tiny hamlet of Chak 59, who were burnt alive by an ‎angry mob under the false pretext of blasphemy.  The candlelight initiative was sponsored by the ‎National Minorities Alliance of Pakistan (NMAP), in cooperation with the Joshwa Welfare ‎Organisation (JWO) and the Muslim Masihi Ittehad (MMI).  Brandishing placards, they chanted ‎slogans in praise of peace and the protection of the rights of persecuted minorities.‎ (Source: AsiaNews)