Pakistan man sentenced to death for \\\'blasphemy\\\'

A court in Pakistan has passed a death sentence on a man convicted under controversial blasphemy laws of insulting the Prophet Mohammed, lawyers said Tuesday. Pakistan has strict laws against insulting Islam, which can sometimes carry the death penalty, but rights activists say they are often misused to settle personal disputes. Zulfiqar Ali, aged in his 50s, was arrested in April 2008 in the eastern city of Lahore and accused of writing blasphemous slogans on walls. ‘Accused Zulfiqar Ali has committed the act of blasphemy by writing the abusive sentences towards Holy Prophet on the walls of Nehru Park, Islampura,’ the judge said. ‘He was caught red-handed. Police came there. He was also used to utter derogatory remarks on hearing the call for prayers.’ Ali also must pay a fine of one million rupees ($10,000), otherwise he will have to spend one year in jail before going to the gallows, the order said, according to AFP.