Bilawal Bhutto Zardari assured Christians and other minorities in Pakistan that they would be defended 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 a week ago 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.
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.
Mr Bhutto Zardari, whose father is Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari, railed against those who praised Governor Taseer's assassination as he addressed mourners at the Pakistan High Commission in London on Monday evening.
Liaquat Baloch Jamaat-i-Islami leader“"The Pope's statement is an open invitation for clash of civilisations ”
"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, reports news agency AFP.
"This will be our jihad," he added.
Mr Bhutto Zardari assured Christians and other minorities in Pakistan that they would be protected.
"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 Pakistan's society.
At his first court appearance in Islamabad last week, the accused, Malik Mumtaz Hussein Qadri, was showered with rose petals by sympathisers, including a number of lawyers. He confessed to the murder in a Rawalpindi court appearance on Monday.
On Sunday up to 50,000 people held a rally in support of the blasphemy law in the city of Karachi.
Meanwhile, the Pope's statement calling for a repeal of the controversial law has drawn a strong reaction from the Islamists.
Pope Benedict made his remarks in a traditional address to ambassadors at the Vatican Jamaat-i-Islami party's Liaquat Baloch said it was "open interference in Pakistan's internal and religious affairs".
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