Sir: As The Life For All Pakistan president, I addressed the media at the National Press Club in Islamabad on Wednesday to talk about the two recent blasphemy cases in Pakistan. The case registered against a private television channel in which Dr Shaista Lohdi, who was hosting a morning show, actress Veena Malik and her husband, all were sentenced to 26 years in prison on blasphemy charges by a local court in Gilgit-Baltistan. The actress has already given her version that she was merely following the format of the show and did not do or say anything blasphemous. Other media and religious fanatic groups are exploiting the matter. The host of the show, Dr Shaista Lohdi, and the actress along with her husband have fled the country fearing for their lives as various religious organisations are issuing threats. Last week a renowned pop artist-turned-preacher, Junaid Jamshed, during a sermon made some controversial remarks about the wife of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), Hazrat Ayesha. The clip went viral over the internet. Jamshed, on Monday, made a clip apologising for what he said and stressed that it was due to his lack of knowledge that this mistake occurred and that the sermon was his version and had nothing to do with his deeply conservative Tableeghi Jamaat. The religious political party Sunni Tehreek formally filed a case against Junaid Jamshed for committing blasphemy.This is a display of complete disparity and we see that the blasphemy laws are being misused for personal gains in these recent cases. Last month, a Christian couple was mercilessly assaulted and burnt alive without even being given a chance to explain that they were innocent, but the influential and religious preacher makes a video clip apologising that it was human error and seeks forgiveness. Above all, his lawyer has already applied for a pre-arrest bail. The citizens of Pakistan are not equal before the law? If anyone randomly accuses any member of the religious minorities, we see entire settlements being burnt and the accused being also burnt alive, but if they are a celebrity or an influential, they are let off the hook or they tender an apology. Shama and Shahzad should be given back 10 minutes of their lives so that they can also make a video clip and clarify that the real issue was a one-off monetary dispute with the owner of the brick kiln who falsely accused them of blasphemy. This clearly shows that our society has become intolerant, and that people misuse the blasphemy law for their personal gains. Therefore concrete steps should be taken to prevent the misuse of such laws. People who raise their voices against such laws are threatened and silenced. How long will these laws be used to oppress the marginalised religious minorities? It is time to raise a voice otherwise the next generation will question our silence. It is time to stop atrocities on the basis of religion.Life For All Pakistan also condemned the manhandling of the blind in Lahore. On Wednesday afternoon, a group of blind people were protesting peacefully, as it was the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, at the Lahore Press Club. They were voicing their demands for an increase in their quota for government jobs. The protestors were trying to move towards the Mall Road where the convoy of the President of Pakistan was ready for movement. This resulted in the police brutally assaulting the blind and dragging them around. The police officials who were in charge have been suspended by the Chief Minister of Punjab, Mian Shahbaz Sharif. Civil society is calling for some exemplary action against the police, as assaults by the police are growing drastically. The culprits of the June 17, 2014 Model Town incident have not been brought to justice yet. The police have been torturing the innocent, while the judiciary is a silent observer of all their inhumane actions, which is making them more violent with each passing day.XAVIER PATRAS WILLIAMVia Email