The incident of the late governors murder was a big news no doubt, and is still discussed everywhere. What adds to its importance is the further polarization of the divided Pakistani society.
Many in the country felt that Salmaan Taseer was just a businessman and not a good politician. His banter with the Punjab government kept feeding the fodder to media outlets. His somewhat modern thoughts on politics, economy and religion were perceived to be at odds with the majority of the public.
It is a point to wonder then as to why the PPP government made him a public figure in Punjab while he boldly spoke against the Punjab government. Why was he given a free reign? And why such a person should even open mouth about one of the most sensitive issue of Muslim Ummah? Why did he declare a legal document a black law? And by calling it a black law, he has incited public anger because the public believes otherwise.
Another misconception created and often heard by some media practitioners is that this is a man made law and that it was imposed by a dictator, thus it is amendable. On the contrary, the death punishment for a blasphemer has been established since the earliest history of Islam.
Degrading another religion or its symbols was considered a crime even in the era of the British rule. It is great that now we have scholars like Javed Ghamidi who claim otherwise, but for the longest time in the history of Islam and before the arrival of Mr Ghamidi, the very punishment for the blasphemer had been practiced.
But the implementation of the punishment only comes after a person is convicted of the crime, and not on mere allegation. The misuse of this law or any other is condemnable and measures need to be taken to put an end to exploitation of all laws.
UNEZA HAMID
Lahore
