The Pakistan Penal Code prohibits blasphemy against any recognized religion, providing penalties ranging from a fine to death. However, in practice, it is only applied to Islam. An accusation of blasphemy commonly subjects the accused, police, lawyers, and judges to harassment, threats, and attacks.
By its constitution, the official name of Pakistan is the "Islamic Republic of Pakistan." More than 96% of Pakistan's 167 million citizens (2008) are Muslims. Among countries with a Muslim majority, Pakistan has the strictest anti-blasphemy laws. The first purpose of those laws is to protect Islamic authority.
By the constitution (Article 2), Islam is the state religion. By the constitution's Article 31, it is the country's duty to foster the Islamic way of life. By Article 33, it is the country's duty to discourage parochial, racial, tribal, sectarian, and provincial prejudices among the citizens
Some facts:-
-- In 1927, the British colonial rulers of the sub-continent made it a criminal offence to commit "deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religious belief". The law did not discriminate between religions
-- The law was retained when Pakistan gained independence in 1947 under the rule of the country's moderate founder Mohammad Ali Jinnah
-- Pakistan's late military ruler Mohammed Zia ul-Haq, who was in power for 11 years from 1977, made several additions to its blasphemy laws, including life imprisonment for those defiling or desecrating the Koran
-- In 1984, followers of the minority Ahmadi sect, who believe that Ahmad was a prophet, were banned from calling themselves Muslims, punishable with three years in jail
-- The death penalty for anyone found guilty of defaming Islam was introduced in 1986. Pakistan has yet to execute anyone for blasphemy. Most of those given the death penalty have their sentences overturned or commuted on appeal
-- Ten blasphemy cases were reportedly heard in court in the 58 years between 1927 and 1985, but since then more than 4,000 cases have been handled
-- A Christian woman, Aasia Bibi, was sentenced to hang in Pakistan's central province of Punjab last November after being found guilty of insulting the Prophet Mohammed following a row with Muslim women in her village
-- Lawmaker Sherry Rehman from the ruling Pakistan People's Party sparked fury later that month when she lodged a private member's bill, seeking to abolish the death penalty and clarify the law on blasphemy
-- On December 30, 2010, the PPP-led government announced it had no intention of amending the blasphemy law
-- On December 31, 2010, businesses went on strike across Pakistan in protest over moves to amend the law despite international controversy over Bibi's death sentence
-- On January 5, 2011, moderate politician Salman Taseer was killed by his bodyguard for advocating reform of the blasphemy laws. His assassin was subsequently hailed as a hero, with a number of lawyers offering to represent him for free.
-- On March 2, 2011, gunmen shot dead minorities minister Shahbaz Bhatti, a Catholic, who had vowed to defy death threats in his opposition to the laws.
By its constitution, the official name of Pakistan is the "Islamic Republic of Pakistan." More than 96% of Pakistan's 167 million citizens (2008) are Muslims. Among countries with a Muslim majority, Pakistan has the strictest anti-blasphemy laws. The first purpose of those laws is to protect Islamic authority.
By the constitution (Article 2), Islam is the state religion. By the constitution's Article 31, it is the country's duty to foster the Islamic way of life. By Article 33, it is the country's duty to discourage parochial, racial, tribal, sectarian, and provincial prejudices among the citizens
Some facts:-
-- In 1927, the British colonial rulers of the sub-continent made it a criminal offence to commit "deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religious belief". The law did not discriminate between religions
-- The law was retained when Pakistan gained independence in 1947 under the rule of the country's moderate founder Mohammad Ali Jinnah
-- Pakistan's late military ruler Mohammed Zia ul-Haq, who was in power for 11 years from 1977, made several additions to its blasphemy laws, including life imprisonment for those defiling or desecrating the Koran
-- In 1984, followers of the minority Ahmadi sect, who believe that Ahmad was a prophet, were banned from calling themselves Muslims, punishable with three years in jail
-- The death penalty for anyone found guilty of defaming Islam was introduced in 1986. Pakistan has yet to execute anyone for blasphemy. Most of those given the death penalty have their sentences overturned or commuted on appeal
-- Ten blasphemy cases were reportedly heard in court in the 58 years between 1927 and 1985, but since then more than 4,000 cases have been handled
-- A Christian woman, Aasia Bibi, was sentenced to hang in Pakistan's central province of Punjab last November after being found guilty of insulting the Prophet Mohammed following a row with Muslim women in her village
-- Lawmaker Sherry Rehman from the ruling Pakistan People's Party sparked fury later that month when she lodged a private member's bill, seeking to abolish the death penalty and clarify the law on blasphemy
-- On December 30, 2010, the PPP-led government announced it had no intention of amending the blasphemy law
-- On December 31, 2010, businesses went on strike across Pakistan in protest over moves to amend the law despite international controversy over Bibi's death sentence
-- On January 5, 2011, moderate politician Salman Taseer was killed by his bodyguard for advocating reform of the blasphemy laws. His assassin was subsequently hailed as a hero, with a number of lawyers offering to represent him for free.
-- On March 2, 2011, gunmen shot dead minorities minister Shahbaz Bhatti, a Catholic, who had vowed to defy death threats in his opposition to the laws.
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