Friday, March 29, 2024
spot_img

‘Pak blasphemy law tweak to create room for minorities’ persecution’

Date:

Share post:

spot_img
spot_img

Islamabad, Jan 21: Pakistan’s top human rights body has expressed deep concern over amendments to the country’s controversial blasphemy laws, saying they are likely to exacerbate the persecution of the beleaguered religious minorities and minority sects.
Pakistan’s National Assembly unanimously passed the Criminal Laws (Amendment) Act 2023 on Tuesday, enhancing the minimum punishment for those who insult the revered personalities of Islam from three to 10 years along with a fine of Rs 1 million.
Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) Chairperson Hina Jilani in a statement issued from Lahore on Friday said the enactment would further increase persecutions of the minorities.
“While the stated aim of this bill is to curb sectarianism, HRCP believes it is likely to exacerbate the persecution of Pakistan’s beleaguered religious minorities and minority sects,” according to her statement.
“Given Pakistan’s troubled record of the misuse of such laws, these amendments are likely to be weaponised disproportionately against religious minorities and sects, resulting in false FIRs, harassment and persecution,” it said. The human rights body said that increasing the penalty for alleged blasphemy will aggravate misuse of the law to settle personal vendettas, as is often the case with blasphemy allegations. “At a time when civil society has been calling for amendments to these laws to prevent their abuse, strengthening this punishment will do the exact opposite,” it said.
Earlier, Maulana Abdul Akbar Chitrali of the hardline Jamaat-e-Islami party moved the bill in the National Assembly, saying that the punishment for insulting a member of Parliament was five years, but the same for disrespecting the revered personalities of Islam was three years.
The statement of objectives of the bill said disrespecting the companion of the Prophet and other personalities not only promoted terrorism and disruption in the country but also hurt people from all walks of life. Later, the house unanimously passed the Criminal Laws (Amendment) Bill. In Section 298-A of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), the bill said, the punishment against the person who disrespected the wives, family and companions of the Prophet was imprisonment for a minimum of three years along with a nominal penalty. (PTI)

spot_img
spot_img

Related articles

Riyan, bowlers propel Rajasthan Royals to 12-run win over Delhi

Jaipur, March 28: Riyan Parag enthralled the home fans by smashing an eye-catchy unbeaten 84 off just 45...

Arunachal was, is, and will remain an integral part of India: MEA

New Delhi, Mar 28:  The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Thursday that China's repetitive claims on...

SP injured in Arunachal’s Longding as crowd pelt stones during scrutiny of nominations

Itanagar, March 28: Superintendent of Police of Arunachal Pradesh's Longding district, Dekio Gumja, was injured after some people...

Aditi Rao Hydari confirms union with Siddharth

Shillong, March 28: Actress Aditi Rao Hydari, who secretly got engaged to actor Siddharth on Wednesday, confirmed their...