Zaidi Qasim
Prime Minister (20k+ posts)
I am not asking for amendments so as to please the West.
I am asking for amendments because I feel it is a direct insult to the Holy Prophets pbuh name and stature when people in our country use the said law for settling personal scores and they succeed in doing so because people dont stand up to them so aas not to offend 'sensibilities'.
I am asking for amendments because the wrongful use of the law sends a negative impression of my religion and also of my Prophet pbuh and living in the west I have to answer many hateful questions that arise out of such incidents.
I am asking for amendments so that the law instead of stopping blasphemy does not end up creating blasphemy in the hearts if people.
Have you ever wondered why there are no cases of blasphemy reported in the other 51 Islamic countries on the same scale as in Pakistan?
Have you ever wondered why 50% of cases registered are against Muslims?
Are we a blaspheming nation?
These are questions that need thought.
The amedments that I would like to see in the law are as follows:
1. Accuser automatically stands to be charged with blasphemy if the accused is found not guilty.
2. The person charged should be taken into protective custody and immediately presented before a magistrate who will ascertain the intensity of the crime. If the person charged says he/she is sorry for saying something that has been taken out of context or even if he/she repents on the spot a margin of leniency should be provided considering that sometimes people say things in a charged atmosphere which they honestly regret. Im sure if someone asked the Prophet pbuh himself for mercy and forgiveness he would oblige them.
3. Anyone inciting hatred in the name of blasphemy law should also be booked under the same law.
From the population of about 180 Million Pakistanis, only 600 plus cases are registred under this law since its inception.Out of these 600 plus cases , only about 150 cases were convicted and out of which around 50 % of them or in appeal proceedures or pending further court actions. Now tell me why is it so Important that we must talk about either repealing or amending this law where only a fraction of our population effected, yet fail to even consider common laws which are violated day and night but no one is talking about amending them ? If you think It is a flip of the coin ? or the reality is that foreign Governemnts are pressuring these fibles souls who are quick to surrend their soverignity on any small benefit.
I can also see a hint of this pressure in your writting about west. Let me remind you the role of these western Governments which played to defend anyone who is aginst our religion, may it be Sulaman Rushdi,The writter from Bungladesh or the danish newspaper. So I will not answerable to them but to almighty in this world and hereafter.
Pakistan is not a secular state. Not as yet anyway. We do not promote atheism.We do not promote insulting Allah's pophets as well. If your argument would have been only to ensuring the implementation of this law without any prejudice, I would have been with you all along. But on the name of making it better, if the intention is to repeal or make it toothless law, then I can see that in the eyes of those who can find many defects in this law, but yet unable to point other laws which are severly abused and their conditions are violated day and night in Pakistan. If sheren Rehman( who believe that covering her head with scarf is an insult to her) is the flag carrier of the group of those seeking amendment in this law,then I seriously doubts their intentions.
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