Curbing disrespect of holy personalities: introduction, implementation of special laws stressed

Special laws should be made at international level for curbing disrespect of holy personalities, religious customs as well as defaming famous holy persons. Members of the Standing Committee on Law and Justice and Human Rights have expressed these views during a meeting with the visiting UN Special Rapporteur on Independence of Judges and Lawyers headed by Ms Gabriela Knaul on Tuesday.
The meeting was chaired by Begum Nasim Akhter Chaudhry and Abdul Ghafoor Chaudhry, former justice Fakhar-un-Nisa Khother, Tariq Shabir, Samina Mushtaq Pugganwala and Rehela Baloch attended the meeting. The committee informed the UN Special Rapporteur that being a Muslim country "we consider blasphemy a serious offence and added blasphemy injure the feelings of Muslims."
When asked by the UN special Rapporteur about the misuse of blasphemy law in Pakistan, they said that government was making serious efforts to stop misuse of blasphemy law especially against minorities. The committee informed the UN Special Rapporteur that the government had passed a number of laws in the last four years for the protection of rights of children and women. The government had also passed laws for curbing domestic violence and protection of working women, he added.
The committee members, while answering the questions of the UN representative, said that after the passage of 18th constitutional amendment, Supreme Court, High Courts and lower courts have been given autonomy not to take only independent decisions but to finalise its annual budget demands and salary structure of the courts. They said the President and the Prime Minister had given their powers to the parliament and judiciary so as a result of transition those institutions could become strong and autonomous.
They informed the visiting UN Special Rapporteur that Shariah Court and Islamic Ideological Council were the recommendatory institution, which gave advice in the light of Islamic Jurisprudence. The ultimate power rests with Supreme Court and Parliament. The UN Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers, Mrs Gabriela Knaul is visiting Pakistan from May 18 to 29 on the invitation of the government of Pakistan. This is the first visit of the Special Rapporteur to Pakistan.
Special Rapporteurs are on one of the three mechanisms employed by the UN Human Rights Council to promote human rights. These mechanisms are, the Universal Periodic Review to assess the human rights situations in all UN members states, the complaint of procedure of individual cases of human rights violations and UN special procedures consisting of working groups and special rapporteurs were mandated to monitors, examine, advise and publicly report on the issues within their jurisdiction.