A court in Punjab Province in Pakistan has sentenced a Muslim to death for insulting the Prophet Mohammed -- the first time a Muslim has received the death penalty under the country's blasphemy laws.

The man Ghuklam Akbar, was arrested in a restaurant after some people there heard him abusing Mohammed's name.

But the details of his offence are not known, as to repeat his words would constitute a similar violation of the law.

The BBC correspondent in Islamabad says the blasphemy law has previously been used to convict Christians and Christian leaders say there are currently three such people awaiting trial in jail.

The issue gained prominence in May, when the Catholic bishop of Faisalabad John Joseph, committed suicide to protest against the law.