A strike was called across Pakistan Friday to protest against possible changes to the country's blasphemy laws, media reports said.
Public transport was at a standstill in Karachi, where demonstrators blocked traffic as part of the industrial action called by religious parties, the BBC reported Friday. Businesses were reported closed in parts of Sindh and Punjab provinces as well.
The government has tried to put space between itself and the bill that would change the law, which carries a mandatory death sentence for anyone convicted of insulting Islam. Rights groups say the law frequently is used to persecute religious minorities.
The bill would amend the blasphemy law by abolishing the death sentence and strengthening clauses that would prevent the law from being misused, the BBC said.
"I state with full responsibility that the government has no intention to repeal the blasphemy law," Religious Affairs Minister Syed Khurshid Shah said.
A public meeting is scheduled Jan. 9 to discuss the current blasphemy law, Geo News reported.
The legislation came to the fore in November after a Pakistani Christian woman, Asia Bibi, was sentenced to death for insulting the Prophet Mohammad during an argument.
Internationally, religious leaders and civilian leaders called on Pakistani officials to grant leniency toward Bibi.