Speaking in the National Assembly on Wednesday, the Religious Affairs Minister, Khurshid Shah informed the House that the government had no intention to repeal or make changes in the blasphemy laws. Distancing the government from a bill that a PPP leader, Sherry Rehman, has introduced seeking amendment in the laws to prevent abuse, Shah said "Hers is a private member's bill".
Notably, he interrupted the proceedings in the house to announce that the law would remain in its existing form. The purpose, of course, was to deflate the tension that the religious parties and groups call for a countrywide shutter-down strike to protest any change in the law had created.
The minister went on to aver that it is the prime duty of the government to ensure the Tahaffuz-e-Namoos-e-Risalat, also holding out the assurance that it would not allow any wrong to be done to the minorities, who have suffered most on account of false accusations. He did not say, though, how such wrongs could be prevented without making changes in the existing laws.
It needs to be noted that before General Ziaul Haq, who invoked religion to advance his political objectives, introduced the blasphemy laws, there was hardly any reported case of irreverence shown to the Holy Prophet (PBUH) or the Holy Quran. But after he put them on the statute book, there have been countless cases where unscrupulous persons have accused others of blasphemy to settle personal scores or to grab their properties. Significantly, almost all the accused dragged in the courts were set free. Still, aside from having spent long periods behind bars, their lives were ruined forever. They could not go back to their homes.
These laws have also encouraged vigilantism. There have been more than 30 reported cases where the accusers incited people with the help of the local mosque imam to kill the accused. In one instance, a Christian teenaged boy, Salamat Masih, accused of having written blasphemous comments on the wall of a mosque and on a paper that he purportedly threw inside the mosque, wrapped around a rock, was released by the Lahore High Court since he was found to be illiterate and hence unable to write.
But he and his father were attacked while waiting for the bus. The father died, and later the judge, who exonerated the boy, was also killed in his chambers. There are too numerous examples where not only Christians, but Muslims too were murdered on the basis of false accusations.
In view of the abuse of these laws, Sherry Rehman's bill basically seeks to place the burden of proof on the accusers, removing immunity for false accusers and mala fide intent through clauses that penalise false charges of blasphemy. No God-fearing person should have any problem taking away such flaws from these man-made laws.
Unfortunately, the objectors want to use them for making political gains. For now, the government, embattled as it is on too many fronts, has pre-empted the religious lobbies move, but it must meet the assurance the minister held out to the minorities. At a time such as the present, when the Asia Bibi case is under the spotlight, perhaps it is not right for making the necessary changes. The government ought to use calmer moments to address public concern on the issue.
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