It is sad indeed that Sherry Rehman has had to withdraw her proposed bill to modify the existing blasphemy law.
LAHORE: It is sad indeed that Sherry Rehman has had to withdraw her proposed bill to modify the existing blasphemy law. This is unfortunate because the law has been much misused by people to settle personal scores with members of any minority group. Salmaan Taseer became a victim of the religious right, which labelled him a 'liberal fascist' when all he had done was to air his personal opinion on amending a man-made law on blasphemy.
Some religious extremists have labelled Ms Rehman an infidel as well, so one can understand the immense pressures on her. Besides, her own party seems to have deserted her. In that context, she did what she had to do — after all, obedience is a must to survive in the game of politics.
Salma Tahir
Published in The Express Tribune, February 8th, 2011.
