Two government officials, Punjab governor Salman Taseer and Federal Minorities Minister Shahbaz Bhatti were murdered after voicing public support for Bibi and criticizing Pakistan’s blasphemy law. Sedition Laws in India – An Undemocratic, Ugly Face of Oppressive India. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) - a voluntary organisation - has been documenting blasphemy cases for decades. He fought all of them in the courts and proved his innocence. Qadri was executed five years later for the shocking murder, but he was hailed as a hero, even a saint, by many in Pakistan for his act of killing a perceived blasphemer. In 2010, a member of the ruling Pakistan People's Party (PPP), Sherry Rehman, introduced a private bill to amend the blasphemy law. The procedures of evidence for tazir punishments are contained in the Qanun-e-Shahadat Order 1984.[37]. That rise can be traced to the murder of Salman Taseer, then-governor of Pakistan’s most populous Punjab province, in January 2011. The maximum punishment under these laws ranges from one year to 10 years in jail, with or without a fine. "Bad-mouthing: Pakistan's blasphemy laws legitimise intolerance". By Article 33, it is the country's duty to discourage parochial, racial, tribal, sectarian, and provincial prejudices among the citizens. Islamabad, Pakistan - Bishop John Joseph, 65, one of Pakistan’s most prominent human rights activists, had been campaigning for decades to reform the country's strict blasphemy laws. Full article Daily news briefing direct to your inbox. Out of these laws, the highly infamous and one of the most invoked provisions today is section 295-C.[10], In 1984, the existing provisions stipulated in s.295 were challenged in a case[11] by Ismail Qureshi who contended that such provisions were repugnant to Islamic injunctions. The murderer, Mumtaz Qadri, believed Salman Taseer supported blasphemies against the Prophet Mohammed, allegedly made by a member of minority Christian community girl, Aasia Bibi. Droughts, derecho, COVID-19, trade with China make year tough for farming, U.S. bishops say ‘enough’ on federal executions. Despite the implementation of these laws, no one has yet been executed by the order of the courts or governments as to date, only imprisoned to await a verdict or killed at the hands of felons who were convinced that the suspects were guilty. Correspondents say the mere accusation of blasphemy is enough to make someone a target for hardliners, as is defending those accused of blasphemy or calling for the laws to be reformed. [28] Moreover, in many cases, the accused are often presumed guilty and the burden is put on them to prove their innocence rather than on the prosecution to prove their “guilt” beyond reasonable doubt. [33] See blasphemy. [2] Furthermore, the retention of the mandatory death sentence as a penalty under Section 295-C of Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) violates Pakistan’s obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) with respect to the right to life, fair trial and prohibition of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. In recent times, however, that has changed. The law continues to be a cause for concern because of the patent defects in its form and procedure, exacerbated by Pakistan’s current social and political milieu. Use of derogatory remarks etc., in respect of holy personages. These are external links and will open in a new window.
More awareness and training regarding blasphemy law is required for the imams, investigating officers, prosecutors, judges and lawyers.[39]. More than 96% of Pakistan's 167 million citizens (2008) are Muslims. One of the most shocking incidents of the notorious Blasphemy laws in Pakistan was the assassination of the Punjab Governor – Salman Taseer, who was brutally shot dead by his own security staff.
Blasphemy Laws in Pakistan are one of the most draconian laws in the world and carry a possible death sentence to anyone who insults Islam or the Prophet. [1]
[43], Pakistani human rights activists say that because there is no punishment for making a false accusation, charges of blasphemy are being used to harass minorities and settle personal conflicts. The article proposes certain recommendations and suggestions to improve the status and efficient functioning of blasphemy law if it is not to be repealed. Most of the cases had been initiated against Ahmadis and Christians, but also Muslims, including orthodox Sunni Muslims. The issue is that the law does not require proof of intent on part of the accused, while the oral testimony of only a few prosecution witnesses is deemed admissible for the conviction of the accused, resulting in the death penalty. “Many Muslim countries have laws that deal with religious or sacred figures, or religion as a whole, as opposed to the very specific laws enacted in Pakistan.”. When Punjab Governor Salman Taseer was assassinated who was an eminent detractor of the notorious blasphemy law, Pakistan remained divided, with some hailing his assassin “Mumtaz Quadri” as a hero. "[45], Arrests and death sentences issued for blasphemy laws in Pakistan go back to the late 1980s and early 90s. In 1980, making derogatory remarks against Islamic personages was made an offence, carrying a maximum punishment of three years in jail. [1] Blasphemy laws in Pakistan arguably exist in a more problematic and controversial form than in other countries and are therefore denounced by Pakistani civil society activists, international human rights organizations and members of the judiciary and the government who have all observed how Pakistan’s offences against religion violate its obligations under international human rights law.