Blasphemy laws in Pakistan: By Dr. Adil Ghouri

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In Pakistan, the blasphemy law of 295C has become a symbol of fear for minorites . because this law has always been used against religious minorities even though minorities cannot be guilty of blasphemy.

The blasphemy law is a very strict law which is non-bailable and punishable by death. It is surprising that a case of such a strict law is registered very easily.When a person accuses someone of blasphemy, it is announced over the loudspeakers of the mosques, which gathers the crowd.

An angry mob storms the police station and the police register a case under public pressure without any investigation.

After registering the case, if the accused cannot be arrested, the police arrest his wife, children and siblings, which is against the law.

Being a non-bailable offence, the accused waits for bail for many years, during which he is treated inhumanely in jail, district courts refrain from granting bail for this crime, there is fear among judges, while hearing in the High Court takes years.

Even if the High Court grants bail to such an accused, there is no guarantee of his life.

Any extremist can kill him in a court or on a street because killing such an accused is considered a reward by extremists

Provincial Governor Punjab Sulaiman Taseer and Christian Federal Minister Shehbaz Bhatti were killed for merely discussing this law.

It has been observed that some people misuse this law for personal enmity and interests against non-Muslims and make their lives difficult by making false accusations.

Minorities demand that the misuse of this law should be stopped and that a law should be made against the plaintiffs who file false and baseless cases.A case of such a serious charge should not be registered merely under mob pressure, the case should be registered by a committee of other police officers headed by the District Police Officer after investigation.

From 1947 to 2021, 89 accused, 71 men and 18 women, who were accused of blasphemy were killed by mobs without trial.

From 1947 to 2021, 1500 cases of blasphemy were registered, after the rise in religious extremism, 57 cases were registered from January to May this year in 2023.

Three cases have been registered in just one city Sargodha this month

Religious intolerance is on the rise Political parties are using the religion card to increase their vote bank Many religious organizations have gone head-to-head with political parties

 

 

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