After silently watching an atmosphere of fear and intimidation spread over almost a quarter of a century, at last the Supreme Court of Pakistan (SCP) has spoken up that demand for improvement in blasphemy law is not an act of blasphemy. In fact SCP is asking the parliament to reform the much dreaded blasphemy law. But if the Supreme Court expects politicians to do this job, it is sadly at fault. This law is such a stone in Pakistan’ politics that politicians can kiss it, if pushed; but can’t disturb it, otherwise, that will become a sinking stone for their own ships. One wonders how the original law, earlier formulated by the Brits during colonial period, never resulted in such destruction and manslaughter. Why only after a military dictator made drastic changes in the law, citizens of Pakistan, mostly Muslims, started insulting their religion? From 1940s till 80s, the number of people implicated in committing acts of blasphemy could be counted on the fingertips. Gen Zia-ul-Haq used this law to please and garner religious extremists’ support and once the genie was out of bottle, no one knew what to do.
Presently the issue is not only the law but the prevailing atmosphere of hatred and ferocity is the main concern. A mere accusation of blasphemy is good enough for a charged mob to resort to violence and lynching. Even if the law is amended, I doubt much would change unless false accusers are given exemplary punishments. But the issue is also one that involves the judicial process — a blasphemy accused is kept in a local police station and presented in a local tehsil/district court. No one shall expect the local police, administration and junior court to do any justice with the accused. They are living in the same locality, they could themselves become victims of charged mobs. Once someone is accused, we are talking of years after years of incarnation during which first the local court passes its verdict. Only then the appeal process starts wherein generally the superior courts revise the original verdict. In my opinion, only the High Courts should be authorised to hear such cases. Lower courts should be kept out of this self-defeating judicial disaster. Blasphemy accused should be quickly moved to a secure place while the High Court decides the case in weeks, not years and decades. To take the initiative out of the mob, the false accusers should be heavily punished. If that’s too much for the courts and government, then nothing to worry about, we as a nation are already set on self-destruction mode.
MASOOD KHAN
Jubail, Saudi Arabia
