Pakistan Bulletin

An up-to-date and informed analyses of key issues of Pakistan.

A Crisis of Justice and Humanity

September 2024

Pakistan stands at a critical crossroads as blasphemy laws are being increasingly misused to fuel violence and injustice.

Pakistan has faced the threatening shadow of its blasphemy laws once more. The month of September saw two horrifying incidents, one in Quetta and the other in Mirpurkhas. These events demonstrated both how frequently the system leads to disasters and how quickly reforms are needed.

Recent tragic incidents in Quetta and Mirpurkhas expose the alarming misuse of blasphemy laws, highlighting the urgent need for reform.

In Quetta, an individual accused of blasphemy was killed by a police officer who was assigned to monitor the accused. The accused was put to death sentence without facing a fair trial. The decision by the victim’s family to pardon the murderer highlights the troubling societal norms surrounding blasphemy allegations. While this act of forgiveness may have been intended to bring closure, it risks setting a dangerous precedent that could further undermine the rule of law.
It is equally unsettling to see the picture that the Mirpurkhas incident presents. The accused was detained in Karachi after a police complaint was filed in Umerkot. On the way to Umerkot, the Mirpurkhas police mysteriously killed the accused in a staged encounter allegedly with the accused’s accomplices. It is an old tactic of the local police to justify extrajudicial killings. Rights groups have pointed to possible premeditation and the erosion of legal protections in light of the circumstances surrounding this transfer and the death that followed.
The Sindh Government has established a police investigative committee and suspended the implicated police officers, including Deputy Inspector General of Police Akbar Jiskani and Senior Superintendent of Police Mirpurkhas. Despite this, the civil society is urging that the police party be sued in court and a judicial inquiry under a Sindh High Court judge be established.
These are signs of a more serious ailment rather than isolated instances. These highlight the potential vulnerability of blasphemy accuseds, even in the presence of governmental security. These draw attention to the possibility of blasphemy laws being abused. Above all, these highlight the difficulties in maintaining fair trials in a setting where the courts are frequently subordinated to popular opinion.

As the cycle of extrajudicial killings and societal vigilantism continues, the country must confront the deep-rooted issues surrounding blasphemy accusations and their impact on justice.

The misuse of blasphemy laws is not a new story. However, with every new incidence, there is an increasing call for blasphemy law reforms. Reform is admittedly a difficult task because the subject is sensitive and closely related to religious and cultural identities. However, the alternative — a never-ending cycle of extrajudicial executions, allegations, and mob violence — does not align with any aspirations for a society that upholds justice and the rule of law.  Perhaps the state can start with an implementable strategy that protects individual rights and promotes religious tolerance. Such a strategy may require judicial reform, political audacity, and concerted efforts for behavioural change in public.  Moreover, to ensure that charges of blasphemy are handled fairly and in compliance with due process, there is need to fortify the country’s legal system. Law enforcement organizations must have better tools and training to safeguard the people under their supervision.

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