The government should provide “total protection” to Pakistan Christians, including Rimsha and her family, demanded a panel of five speakers at a press conference by Centre for Legal Aid Assistance and Settlement (CLAAS).
The eight-point list of demands issued by CLAAS include provision of psycho-social trauma counselling to Rimsha and that she be tried under the Juvenile Justice System Ordinance provisions, keeping in mind that she suffers from Down’s Syndrome.
Other demands are:
1) Qari Khalid Jadoon, the prayer leader who accused Rimsha, be tried under the existing blasphemy laws.
2) the report and recommendations of a parliamentary committee on blasphemy laws chaired by MNA Nafeesha Shah be made public.
3) the blasphemy law be revised to prevent its misuse, abuse and exploitation.
4) prevent law enforcement agencies from succumbing to mob threats, pressure and allowing extra-judicial mob vigilante actions.
The speakers on the panel were CLAAS Director Joseph Francis, Raiwind Bishop Samuel Robert Azariah, rights activist Tahira Abdullah, Christian-Muslim Federation International Qazi Abdul Qadeer Khamosh and Christian Study Centre Peace & Interfaith Harmony Director Romana Bashir.
Abdullah elaborated during the Q&A session that the Urdu translation of the anti-blasphemy law in Pakistan focuses just on Islam instead of ensuring respect for all religions, like Islam commands.
She added that the problems in the blasphemy laws arose after General Ziaul Haq made a series of revisions and additions to them between 1982 and 1986. She concluded that there should be a single law ensuring respect for all religions in Pakistan.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 10th, 2012.
COMMENTS (17)
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@Qaisar jan: Nayya Mullah Allah Allah zaida karta hai. By world standard Islamic Republic of Pakistan is fairly new (65years old) country
@Humanity can you liberal please stop using this sentence '11 year old child'. I have seen her real face she is no way 11 year old. may be an adult. And the picture that has been used for her by the anti Pakistan media is also fake. search for her real pic when she is leaving from the jail.
and if the girl is adult and have no down syndrome she must be tried under the blasphemy law. but as she seems to be innocent. Mullah should be tried with three charges.
for disrespecting the holy quran. for putting the false allegation on an innocent person. for trying to create religious hatred.But the liberal anti pakistan media should also be condemned for spreading the false rumors.
@zeeshan sheikh wrote "Repeal the blasphemy law but the maulvi should be tried under the existing blasphemy law. Genius may be they all have down syndrome".
People with Down Syndrome have far superior intelligence than this species who thinks God depends on them to save and protect His message and the honor of His messengers.
After all there are witnesses who claim the mullah ripped off pages from the Holy Quran and dumped the pages in trash with the intent that the holy scripture be burnt with the rubbish, so that this savior of Islam could satiate his thirst of blood with the blood of an 11 year old child.
Justice demands that the (demon)mullah must be given the taste of his own medicine and be hanged with the same noose he has designed for others. An example must be set for for thousands of god-mutants and baby-god-mutants in the making in this land of pure.
out of 57 Muslim countries, only 3 advocate death penalty for blasphemy ... we may be the most corrupt muslim nation in the world, but we srely are the more lovers of the Prophet than 54 others
@Hjsm not IK but Mr Zardari is leading the country, may be ask him first
Good! This barbaric law needs to be repealed and some sense needs to be bashed into the heads of those who support these laws, which i presume are the majority of the Pakistanis. A great nation aren't we? Meh! :/
all minorities should be protected; being muslim means to respect everyone's beliefs ,, we need to be less imposing of our beliefs and be more of exemplary and welcoming
@Hjsam: For gods sake my friend....why people are so obsessed with IMRAN KHAN.. What about those corrupt status quo parties that people like you have been electing all along
Simply, repeal the blasphemy law, period
@Hjsam
PTI and Khan have already stated that it supports the law. They are somehow living in the delusion that blasphemy laws are "necessary" for "maintaining religious harmony".
if u demand to ammend this law bcoz of misuse then u shud keep in mind that every law can be misused, there r lot of people accused of murders and thefts but they r innocent. why doesnt any1 demands those laws to be revised as well, why only blesphemey laws always on discussion
Repeal the blasphemy law but the maulvi should be tried under the existing blasphemy law. Genius may be they all have down syndrome
Why is Imran Khan and PTI silent over this issue.
keep dreaming
REPEAL the blasphemy law.
Join the comity of the civilized nations including 28 progressive muslim countries that dont have these laws.