The group is a human rights’ alliance of more than 30 civil society organisations. Students, human rights activists, media personalities and academicians, among others, participated in the procession.
The participants pressed for the release of Aasiya Bibi, a Christian woman recently sentenced to death under blasphemy laws. They called upon the parliament to go for a repeal of Blasphemy Law or make it “toothless” by making heavy amendments to it. The protesters also expressed their disappointment over government officials who had issued statements in favour of these laws.
The protesters decided to carry on with the demonstration despite heavy rains that had engulfed the capital since last night. “We are not ready to leave the field open for the religious right to play,” said a student from Iqra University in Islamabad.
They said that parallel judicial systems, ie Council of Islamic Ideology, Federal Shariat Court, jirgas and panchayets, along with other such setups needed to be looked in to. “The tendency [of these systems] to discriminate against women and minorities should be addressed,” they said.
This protest was the beginning of a national campaign that civil society organisations are starting in all parts of Pakistan from Thursday. A national conference and other follow-ups have also been planned by the alliance to raise their voice against “discriminatory laws”.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 31st, 2010.
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