PTI lawmakers call for review of blasphemy law

Agencies Published September 24, 2013

ISLAMABAD: Lawmakers from the Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf (PTI) on Tuesday called on members of the National Assembly to review Pakistan's strict blasphemy laws.

The demand comes a day after the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) ruled out the death penalty for false accusations of blasphemy and ruled that there was no need to amend the blasphemy law.

Speaking during a session of the lower house of Parliament chaired by Speaker Ayaz Sadiq on Tuesday, lawmakers discussed the recent twin suicide bombings at a Peshawar church that killed 81 people and debated on a possible review of the blasphemy law.

PTI leader Makhdoom Javed Hashmi said that religion was being misused as a means to attain power. Hashmi said that the blasphemy law was “incorrectly made,” due to which many innocent people are languishing in jails. Therefore, he said there was a need to review the law.

Commenting on the Peshawar bombing, another member of the PTI, Dr Shireen Mazari said that the sacrifices Christians could not be denied. She said that in order to free innocent non-Muslims from unjust imprisonment, parliament needs to remove flaws from the blasphemy law.

Also speaking during the session, Sahibzada Mohammad Yaqoob of the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) said that the Peshawar tragedy was against Islamic and international laws.

He said that the reason for the blasphemy laws was to ensure than nobody disrespects any messenger of God including the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and Jesus Christ. He urged Javed Hashmi of the PTI to move a bill for amending the blasphemy law or to contact Council of Islamic Ideology or federal Shariah Court and register his apprehensions regarding blasphemy law.

He said Islam was the religion of peace and provides equal rights to minorities. Conspiracies are being hatched to sabotage the peace process in the country however the dialogue process with the willing Taliban should be held.

For the sake of lasting peace, he said there was no harm in accepting the just demands of Taliban.

Stressing on the need for national unity in the face of the terrorist attack in Peshawar, Pakistan People's Party (PPP) leader Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho said that the perpetrators of this crime should be brought to the book at any cost.

Jamiat Ulema-Islam - Fazl (JUI-F) leader Asiya Nasir said that the nation was in dire need of unity. She said that, despite the gruesome attack in Peshawar, her party was still in favour of peace talks with militants.

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Raza

Sep 24, 2013 06:17pm

You have done me proud, Hashmi sb and PTI.

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Akram

Sep 24, 2013 06:39pm

How typical of the Maulvis, makes excuses to defend the indefensible.

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Bold9

Sep 24, 2013 07:36pm

"Jamiat Ulema-Islam - Fazl (JUI-F) leader Asiya Nasir said that the nation was in dire need of unity. She said that, despite the gruesome attack in Peshawar, her party was still in favour of peace talks with militants." Really.. Really... what pathetic cowardice is this. We are a nation of pity cowards nothing more.

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Ahsan

Sep 24, 2013 08:02pm

a positive move from PTI in a long time. These are the issues that people want solved. This is why we voted for you. Not for dying to negotiate with taliban.

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Qaiser Bakhtiari

Sep 24, 2013 08:26pm

Only secularism can save this country. There is no hope for Pakistan as Pakistanis unfortunately are too stupid to understand and follow Islam.

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TAM

Sep 24, 2013 08:28pm

"He said Islam was the religion of peace and provides equal rights to minorities " Hashmi Sahib, wake up. In which Muslim country is this true? Forget about Pakistan - it is the most hate filled country. Can I hear any word of sympathy on the recent Christian massacre from JI leaders? Please answer

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Raja Islam

Sep 24, 2013 08:32pm

A lot of talk but no action. How about disbanding the Council for Islamic Ideology for starters.

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Roxana R

Sep 24, 2013 09:27pm

I do not believe that blasphemy ought to be a criminal offense. What is blasphemy and who defines it and to whom do the laws apply? For allegations of blasphemy, what kind of evidence is correct? Anyone knows that eye witness accounts of any act are not usually reliable. Take 4 people witnessing an event and you will have 4 different version, unless there is collusion. Is it blasphemy to burn a nation's flag? Some think so. There are several situations in which a death penalty may be appropriate: rape, murder, assault on a child. But the use of words? I don't think so.

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saffia

Sep 24, 2013 11:32pm

remember banu nadir and banu quraiza

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Muthu

Sep 24, 2013 11:44pm

What did I read just now? ??

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Ali Khan

Sep 25, 2013 12:44am

Kudos to PTI legislators for their courage. Be relentless, you guys are the only ones who'll strike down this cruel and inhumane law. Go PTI.... Ali

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Abbas Syed

Sep 25, 2013 01:34am

Come on, how long are we going to harp on the same old tired tune: Islam was the religion of peace and provides equal rights to minorities. There has been no evidence of that from Taliban who like Jamaat-e-Islami want to bring Islami Nizam in Pakistan. How do minorities have equal rights in Islam when they have to pay special tax, I think called Jazyeh, when Muslims do not.

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BNS

Sep 25, 2013 03:33am

1. The whole nation feel ashamed on what happened to Christians. They are our brothers and we are with them on this sad moment. 2. Thanks PTI for brininging up the issue of reviewing Blasphemy law. ts high time it should be reviewed.

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Syed Imran

Sep 25, 2013 04:26am

The blasphemy laww has bee dragted by HUMANS. As such it certainly is not something DIVINE and necessarliy correct. It can and should be reviewd in light of eperience and the current situation In many instances the law has been misused for personal vendetta and profit, In today's culture and moral fibre of the country it also opens the door to corruption, rishwat and coercion and threats But knowing our " Learned" ulema, therey can not see the intent and resoning and just stick to obducarcy, rituals and put on blinkers May Allah guide themd N y

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Imran sheikh

Sep 25, 2013 07:39am

Can anyone read the many accounts of the conduct of Propher Muhammad ( pbuh) during his life towards those who abused him, tried to kill him, and harm those close to him, and believe that he ever wished to retaliate and harm them for this? His basic message was always one of love, and compassion towards all his fellow humans. Only when he felt Islam, never his own person, was endangered, did he require firm action by Muslims, and they were never to be aggressors he'll-bent on vengeance. I have not read of one single instance in several accounts by respected researchers where he encouraged any of his companions, who would have died for him had he required it, harm anyone for dis-respecting his person. I am amazed that some men think 1400+ years later they have now to punish anyone who speaks ill of the Prophet, when he himself never allowed this throughout his life. In fact, I feel sure he would have spoken gently to the person abusing him to find out why he was aggrieved, and with compassion helped him, thus winning him over completely. Those who seek to avenge by perpetuating the blasphemy law are actually following jahilliya, which required severely punishing those who said something remotely derogatory to the tribal honour. I question that this is a Muslim tradition. If we are concerned about defending the honour of the man who was possibly the most powerful man ever, perhaps we should follow what he felt was the proper way, rather than doing the opposite.

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haris

Sep 25, 2013 02:08pm

blasphamy law must be revised. there are alot of problems currently which allows religious fundamentalists to misuse it.

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imtiaz

Sep 26, 2013 08:37pm

javed hashmi has any policy guard or not ,if he has, i request him to arrange his private security guard

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hanif khawaja

Sep 27, 2013 11:44am

@Imran sheikh: brilliantly outlined live by the example of the prophet pbuh. let those who transgress be judged on the day of judgement. We should let the elected parliamentarians legislate and not be swayed by the unelected CII.

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