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Blasphemy laws: Steps being considered to prevent abuse

* Officials tell EU causes of religious prejudice will be tackled through education
* Say pressure on HR issues could backfire

By Sajjad Malik

ISLAMABAD: The government is considering a number of measures to stop the abuse of blasphemy laws to victimise minority communities, Pakistan told the European Union during a Joint Commission meeting on May 23 and 24.

“The government is formulating measures to forestall abuse of the blasphemy laws in Pakistan … Efforts are being made to address the causes of religious prejudice through education, economic development and adherence to the rule of law,” documents seen by Daily Times quoted Pakistani officials as telling EU delegates.

The Pakistani officials defended the blasphemy laws, saying they had been part of South Asia’s legal system for over a hundred years. They accepted that the laws were being abused, but noted that the majority of cases registered under the laws were against Muslims.

They rejected EU concerns that there was organised intolerance towards minorities in Pakistan. “Many cases involving members of the minority communities are on account of personal enmity emanating from disputes over property, and other family related problems, and due to social and economic factors like illiteracy and poverty,” the EU side was informed.

Pakistan officials also warned that too much external pressure on human rights issues could impinge on the government’s ability to move forward with new initiatives since such public pressure could generate the impression that the government was acting under western pressure.

During the meeting, Pakistan complained of a rising tide of racism and “Islamophobia” in Europe and demanded the EU take steps to contain them. The EU was also urged to take steps to address a growing perception among Muslims that human rights were western political instruments meant solely to target Muslim societies.

The Pakistani officials also briefed their European counterparts on issues like ratification of certain human rights instruments, forced disappearances, establishment of the National Human Rights Institution of Pakistan and women’s issues.

About forced disappearances, the officials told EU delegates that it was a complex issue, particularly in the context of the problem of terrorism faced by Pakistan. The delegation assured them that the Interior Ministry, working under the directives of the Supreme Court, had traced a large number of such people and “it continued to actively pursue the matter”.

The officials also said that Parliament was considering a draft bill for the establishment of a National Human Rights Commission. They said Pakistan would consider the ratification of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on Elimination of Discrimination Against Women “in due course”, while ratification of the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Forced Disappearances would take some time.

The Pakistan delegation said the government had taken a number of steps during the last ten years for the social, political and economic empowerment and protection of women. It also mentioned the Protection of Women Bill, which was passed last year.

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