Living in fear


Editorial July 07, 2010

A Christian family is reported to have fled their home in Lahore after being accused of blasphemy. A case has been registered against them. It has been stated the family had been using the plastic coating from a billboard inscribed with Quranic verses over their house as a roof, extending over the toilet area too. There is no indication of any intention to cause hurt. It is unclear if the impoverished Christian family is even literate or had any way of knowing the sheet they had been using apparently bore texts from the Holy Quran.

What is alarming is that police showed such little hesitation in lodging a case on these dubious grounds. This of course is a key factor in the dangers arising from blasphemy laws. The Musharraf-era attempt to change the manner in which the blasphemy law was applied to ensure investigation at a higher police level before bringing of charges has been wholly unsuccessful. In many cases, as in the latest one, it seems charges are intended to settle some petty score. We do not know why the neighbour targeted the family or if any attempt was made to resolve the matter without approaching police. The victims feared mob violence — and their apprehensions were not unreasonable given that such attacks have occurred in the past with extremist groups sometimes deliberately stirring up passions. Over the past years, blasphemy laws introduced in 1982 have led to hundreds being placed behind bars, sometimes on the flimsiest of pretexts. In recent years more and more Muslims have been charged. Some of those in jail are mentally insane, unable to take responsibility for their actions. Some accused have been killed in jail before any final verdict in their cases. We desperately need a reform in the law — but this will take courage and conviction.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 8th, 2010.

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