Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Islamabad (Agenzia Fides) - A detailed proposal for the revision of the blasphemy law has arrived at the National Assembly: Fides learned from Sherry Rehman, Muslim, parliamentarian of the “Pakistan Peoples Party”, which drafted the document and submitted it to the Secretariat of the Parliament, “hoping to discuss it and find a majority consensus in the Assembly.”
Ms Rehman – President of the prestigious Institute of Political Studies named after Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan - explained the reasons for the motion to Fides, anticipated by Fides a few days ago (see Fides 20/11/2010): “In the matter of Asia Bibi, international pressure has grown, domestic debate rages, the question is one of priorities at political, social and religious levels. This is why today we have a golden opportunity to discuss, finally, appropriate amendments to the blasphemy law.”
Among the various proposed changes contained in the document, sent to Fides, there are, for example: five years' imprisonment instead of the death penalty for those who commit the crime of blasphemy; severe penalties for those who deliver false accusations of blasphemy and those who incite religious hatred; the passage of proceedings for blasphemy within the jurisdiction of the High Court; the need for accurate trials and guarantees before the arrest of an accused.
The next session of Parliament is scheduled for 20 December: “We hope that the President of the Assembly inserts the motion into the working calendar. For 25 years, the country has supported legislation that was introduced by General Zia and was not approved by any Parliament. It is time to address this problem. In civil society there is growing consensus, even if there are protests from Islamic extremist groups,” emphasised Ms Rehman.
Of Cardinal Tauran's visit to Pakistan, she said: “We are happy. We welcome him and the support of the Holy See and the international community in the campaign for the respect of human rights. The law is shameful. It affects religious minorities (and not only those). It is manifestly unjust. The Prophet Muhammad, a good and just man, would not be a part of it. It is serious and it is wrong to act with violence and injustice in his name.”
Ms Rehman sees “great hope” for the matter of Asia Bibi: “Hers has become an international incident, and I believe it have a good result, either through the legal processes that will demonstrate her innocence, or via a presidential pardon. But I also believe that Asia, a symbol of the anti-blasphemy campaign can no longer live in Pakistan because it will be life-threatening for her. We should place her safely abroad.” (PA) (Agenzia Fides 26/11/2010)
