Pakistan: Civil society calls for an end to impunity

Civil society in Pakistan has launched a petition and sent an open letter to the country's political leaders. Called 'Silence means new blood,' the initiative highlights citizens' concerns that the murderers of Minister Shahbaz Bhatti will go unpunished, and calls for respect for the rights of religious minorities, stressing the urgent need to respect the rule of law and promote inter-religious harmony within society.

This was circulated by 'Citizens for Democracy', a vast movement that includes groups and associations from different backgrounds, including human rights organizations, Muslim groups and the Commission for Justice and Peace of the Bishops of Pakistan.

The network launched a petition that in two days has already gathered 15,000 signatures and wrote an open letter to State authorities, such as the President, the Prime Minister, the Ministers of Interior and Justice, and the leaders of political parties.

"We want to promote respect for all sectors of society, without discrimination, and show that Pakistani society does not accept the intolerance, hatred and violence that led to the murders of Salmaan Taseer and Shahbaz Bhatti," explains a Pakistani activist from the network. The promoters met on March 12, in Karachi, and began circulating the petition, which calls for a law to combat the climate of impunity that allows people to make public apologies for their offenses. The campaign also calls on leaders and politicians to take up the burning issue of the blasphemy law: that no one may be described as 'blasphemous' and therefore become a legitimate target; that the dignity, inalienable rights and fundamental freedoms may be defended.


In the open letter, which calls on the Government to ensure adequate protection to the publicly threatened Parliamentarian, Sherry Rehman, it also calls for the political world to change course in its strong conciliatory policy toward Islamic extremist groups, and the immediate incrimination for those who incite religious hatred and murder, as did the mullah Yousuf Qureshi, in the Mohabbat Khan mosque in Peshawar, announcing a reward for those who would kill Asia Bibi. The Citizens for Democracy network also call for action on the blasphemy law, to stop the abuses, suggesting that every case of complaint be considered at the outset by a magistrate.