More than 60 jurists from across the globe demand annulment of the blasphemy laws in Pakistan.According to details, in excess of 60 distinguished jurists from all around the world met in Geneva. During this meeting they demanded and urged the Pakistani government to repeal the blasphemy law.In a note sent to Fides, it was stated that this is what the “International Commission of Jurists” which is an organization comprising of above 60 well-known jurists from all over the world, have been urging for an immediate renunciation of the blasphemy law in Pakistan. They termed the law as “cruel” while remarking and strongly criticizing the notorious law.Under this law, anybody accused of blasphemy faces life imprisonment or death penalty; and in most cases the issue is settled via an extra judicial judgment often timed administered by a raging mob. Religious minorities living in Pakistan, including Hindus, Ahmadis, and Christians in particular fall a trap to the snare of this law.
During the meeting, the jurists called upon the government of Pakistan, to “modify it because so it is in line with international standards on freedom of expression; freedom of thought, conscience and religion.” They further raised fingers at the bitter fact that the misuse of the blasphemy law, is a common practice mostly to decide private disputes, regarding business or property in Pakistan.
In keeping with the data available, via the “Justice and Peace” National Commission; since 1987, 200 Christians, 633 Muslims, 494 Ahmadis and 21 Hindu have been charged with misdemeanours related to “blasphemy.”
But the facts revealed that keeping in mind the minute religious minorities living among the majority Muslim population “the number of Christians and members of other religious minorities accused is massively disproportionate to the number of Muslims accused, although the number of Muslims accused is overall higher.”
The report further portrayed the dismal picture that out of 25 cases of appeals at the High Court for blasphemy, the International Court of Justice found that in most cases (60%), the applicants were acquitted after judges ruled that the charges brought against them were “fabricated or used for personal or political reasons.”
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