
Mental illness in the form of a collective abandonment of all moral values played a part in the killing of the Christian couple at Kot Radha Kishan last week. As details of the incident emerge, it appears that they were killed in the most horrific manner and did not die quickly. Their murder was allegedly incited by calls from local mosques saying they were blasphemers. Not a shred of evidence has emerged to support the allegation.
In an unprecedented move, the prime minister has appointed the Ports and Shipping Minister, Kamran Michael, as the focal person for the case investigation, making the state a plaintiff. We welcome this move. There is a history of blasphemy laws being misused and abused in Pakistan, and because of this, we have been disgraced both nationally and internationally. Such horrible, tragic events only add to the growing perception of Pakistan as a pariah state. Public and governmental attitudes and perceptions are not going to change overnight — which is no excuse for not trying.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 10th, 2014.
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