Code star Tom Hanks

Despite Christians in Pakistan constituting barely 1.5 per cent of the country's population, the Pakistani government has banned the controversial movie The Da Vinci Code.

Although the film has not been screened in any theatre in Pakistan, an official announcement said that authorities decided to ban it "out of respect for the feelings of Christians, some of whom have said the movie is insulting."

Minister for Culture Ghulam Jamal said the movie was banned as its content was blasphemous, the Daily Times newspaper reported.

The decision came after representations from members of the Christian community.

They received support from activists of Islamist political parties and organizations in some cities. Some Hindu bodies had also marched in solidarity with them in Karachi.

The ban contrasts with the way the Christian community has been treated in the recent past.

Christians were targeted earlier this year when there were worldwide protests against publication of caricatures of Prophet Muhammad in the European media.

The community had also borne the brunt of anger over American intervention in neighbouring Afghanistan. According to community sources, about 70 Christians have been killed in Pakistan since the 9/11 terror attacks in the US.

Almost all 150 million citizens of this Islamic republic are Muslim though there are small but significant minorities other than Christians. Hindus, Ahmadis/Qadianis, Zikris and followers of other faiths or people not belonging to any organized religion comprise 1.5 percent of the population.