LAHORE: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan on Friday expressed its concern over the Criminal Laws (Amendment) Act of 2023, which was passed unanimously in the National Assembly on Jan 17.

While the stated aim of this bill is to curb sectarianism, the HRCP believes it is likely to exacerbate the persecution of Pakistan’s beleaguered religious minorities and minority sects.

The proposed legislation increases the penalty for making derogatory remarks about holy people, including the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)’s family, wives and companions, and the four caliphs, from three years in prison with a fine to life imprisonment “for a period not less than 10 years.”

The bill also makes the offence non-bailable, thereby directly violating the constitutionally guaranteed right to personal liberty under Article 9.

Given Pakistan’s troubled record of the misuse of such laws, these amendments are likely to be weaponized disproportionately against religious minorities and sects, resulting in false FIRs, harassment, and persecution. Moreover, increasing the penalty for alleged blasphemy will aggravate the misuse of the law to settle personal vendettas, as is often the case with blasphemy allegations.

At a time when civil society is pushing for these rules to be amended to prevent abuse, stiffening this punishment will have the opposite effect.

Published in Dawn, January 21st, 2023