Blasphemy laws: UN special envoy decries Pakistan’s justice system
The UN special rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, Gabriela Knaul, expressed serious reservations on Tuesday about Pakistan’s blasphemy laws, weak prosecution, procedures of such sensitive cases in the courts and a parallel justice system including the Federal Shariat Court (FST).
Addressing a news conference in Islamabad, Knaul said it was a matter of concern how the blasphemy law was being misused to target women and deprive them of their fundamental rights. “… Judges have been coerced to pass verdicts against the accused without supporting evidence even. As for the lawyers, in addition to their reluctance to take up such cases, they are targeted and forced not to represent their clients properly,” maintained the UN rapporteur, who is currently on a 10-day official visit to Pakistan (May 19 to May 29).
Showing her concern over the FST, Knaul said, “I believe that the existence of two superior courts in the Constitution is problematic and leaves space for interpretations.” While urging the government to provide high-level security for judges and lawyers, she also pointed out that judges, prosecutors and lawyers working on cases related to terrorist acts and organised crime are also often the target of serious threats and attacks.
“I paid particular attention to the integration of a gender perspective and women’s rights in the justice system. I am concerned that there are currently no women sitting on the Supreme Court and only two women in the high courts,” she said, while mentioning that, “Many stages of the justice system, starting with filing a case with the police, to accessing lawyers and appearing and testifying before courts are gender-biased and therefore impede the full functioning of justice for women.”
While commending the use of the Supreme Court’s power in recent cases related to human rights violations, such as the case of missing persons, she said, “I am concerned by the lack of clear criteria guiding the use of suo motu, which can undermine its own nature and may jeopardise other pending cases from being timely considered by the Supreme Court.”
Published in The Express Tribune, May 30th, 2012.
COMMENTS (10)
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@Mohammed Abbasi: Good argument. I share your views. The mullahs have exploited the ignorance of the uneducated masses to promote their own agenda (Pakistanis are treading a dangerous path with the fanatic madrassah teachings that will only create more extremists). These madrassah "graduates" are perfect destroyers of civilization. Pakistan lacks nation builders such as scientists, doctors, engineers, etc. That is the tragedy. The next generation will also be sucked into this filthy quicksand of religious fanaticism and violence. @ashar You are a fruitcake. Wake up, man. Your rant about "Muslims can never be so dumb" only vindicates the impression that you are, in fact, dumb.
@ashar: There is no such thing as 'blasphemy laws' under Islam - tell me oh pious one where did this blasphemy law come from? The British!
Then it morphed into a control tool for Mullahs to guide their sheeplike followers - come on grow up Pakistan!
@Al Kuffar: Muslims can never be so dumb. it is not the matter of status of mind as you said. it is the matter of the love of the Prophet muslims cherish in thier hearts.
I agree with your second point that blasphemy laws should be implemented with care not to settle personal scores. ET has published a news few days back which related a decision of the respective court against the one who wanted to involve an innocent christian person in blasphemy case. This is more a problem of prosecution and judgement than any problem in the law and the matter will not be solved if the law is repealed.
And al Kuffar is plural and i think you are a single person. So al kaafir will be fine for you however i donot call you that.
@ashar: Christians are not so narrow minded that they would kill anyone for insulting Jesus, there is lot of anti-christian blasphemous books, websites but the reaction of christians is very sober. Secondly, blasphemy laws in Pakistan are used for settling personal scores and taking revenge. No one would like his/her life to be in danger by blasphemy in Pakistan even without blasphemy law.
@Sunny:
SO we should abolish this law and then what? Allow every one to talk nonsense against the Holy Prophet and live peacefully in Pakistan. No way. And this law also included all the Prophets. Have anybody heard someone using bad language about Jesus. Any complaint lodged by a christian. Then why it is the Pious Personality of the HolyProphet always is targetted.
@leila rage: Detecting sarcasm is not your forte is it?
DevilHunterX: Petty issues? People being killed for false blasphemy claims is petty to you. wow.
Judicial system in Pakistan is now in UN trial box .
Afridi case is now an international issue .....
Who cares about these petty issues!?
The important thing is that Sindh will never be broken into the pre-British boundaries!
UN should try best to abondon these blasphemy laws in pakistan to protect 6 Million Non muslims, if needed impose sanctions upon pakistan. otherwise the politicians will never dare to abondon the law because the threat of death will then materialize and the killer will be showered with flowers by judiciary and mullas as happened in salman taseer and shahbaz bhati case.