Blasphemy Law - Should Pakistan Scrap This?

[rickroll]

Like clock work, we keep getting incidents where someone is misusing blasphemy law for personal vendetta or misinterpreting it to punish an innocent or overextending the use of this law in a bad manner.

These laws seem to be inherited from the old British Raj and were then made more mainstream by the Zia administration - https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-48204815

Many innocent people have been charged with these (majority being muslims). This law seems to be weapon wielded by extremists, many of whom are probably not true followers of Islam. Why do we still have these?

 

[Cricket Warrior]

I am not in favor of scrapping this, but yeah we need to make use of it very carefully so that none can use it just to take revenge from anyone.

We need to make it quite strict!

 

[rickroll]

I am not in favor of scrapping this, but yeah we need to make use of it very carefully so that none can use it just to take revenge from anyone.

We need to make it quite strict!

"We need to make it quite strict" - sounds so subjective and full of grey areas. This will only lead to sustaining the current bad status quo of misusing blasphemy laws.

 

[Champ_Pal]

Like clock work, we keep getting incidents where someone is misusing blasphemy law for personal vendetta or misinterpreting it to punish an innocent or overextending the use of this law in a bad manner.

These laws seem to be inherited from the old British Raj and were then made more mainstream by the Zia administration - https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-48204815

Many innocent people have been charged with these (majority being muslims). This law seems to be weapon wielded by extremists, many of whom are probably not true followers of Islam. Why do we still have these?

Countries like Saudi, Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan… all have Blasphemy laws in place. It’s not a British creation.

 

[BouncerGuy]

There are laws to regulate many things but still, people are so aggressive that they use it to their own advantage and misuse it when they want to. Blasphemy law is similar. Law is there but still, people are so brainwashed by scholars that they become violent and try to do harm to other people without knowing the reality.

 

[sweep_shot]

If someone misuses it, that person should get a long prison sentence.

 

[CricketCartoons]

If someone misuses it, that person should get a long prison sentence.

How will you prove if someone misused it?

 

[sweep_shot]

How will you prove if someone misused it?

It can be done with investigation.

For example, during recent incident, it was established that there was nothing offensive on the clothing. So, whoever started the rumor should be jailed or something.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Like clock work, we keep getting incidents where someone is misusing blasphemy law for personal vendetta or misinterpreting it to punish an innocent or overextending the use of this law in a bad manner.

These laws seem to be inherited from the old British Raj and were then made more mainstream by the Zia administration - https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-48204815

Many innocent people have been charged with these (majority being muslims). This law seems to be weapon wielded by extremists, many of whom are probably not true followers of Islam. Why do we still have these?

If they are extremists, then how can they be using this law for personal vendettas or using to punish innocents?

 

[Major]

It can be done with investigation.

For example, during recent incident, it was established that there was nothing offensive on the clothing. So, whoever started the rumor should be jailed or something.

how do you proof an alleged verbal blasphemy?

 

[RexRex]

Any normal country would have removed this nonsensical law by now. And yes, it was introduced during the days of the British Raj.

 

[sweep_shot]

how do you proof an alleged verbal blasphemy?

Looks like you misunderstood my post.

My post was for the accuser. Not the accused. Accuser has to have concrete proof before accusing someone.

 

[rickroll]

If they are extremists, then how can they be using this law for personal vendettas or using to punish innocents?

True. I should rephrase my original sentence to this - This law seems to be weaponized by unscrupulous people, many of whom are probably not true followers of Islam.

 

[hassan918]

The question is irrelevant because we all know that it is not possible in the next few decades at least with the kind of pressure there will be from a very large number of people in the country. If someone makes an attempt to scarp this law, he/she would be in danger of losing his/her life.

 

[Cricket Warrior]

I m not in favor of scrapping it but we need to ensure that this law is implemented genuinely and not for any personal agendas.

 

[rickroll]

The question is irrelevant because we all know that it is not possible in the next few decades at least with the kind of pressure there will be from a very large number of people in the country. If someone makes an attempt to scarp this law, he/she would be in danger of losing his/her life.

This seems to be the sad reality for Pakistan. Others are planning missions to moon, AI research etc while our society is infested with people trying to prove their fake virtues by protesting Arabic script on women's clothing.

 

[BouncerGuy]

Scraping a law is not that easy. especially when it has a religious aspect to it. People will come crashing down on the roads for this thing.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

Scraping a law is not that easy. especially when it has a religious aspect to it. People will come crashing down on the roads for this thing.

It will be considered blasphemy to revoke the blasphemy law.

 

[Cricket Warrior]

Any normal country would have removed this nonsensical law by now. And yes, it was introduced during the days of the British Raj.

there is noting wrong with this law all we need to be more responsible in a way not to use it just to take revange from anyone.

 

[ex-q-zit]

It doesn't matter whther the Blasphemy Law is scrapped or not as more often than not these cases dont go to court but instant judgement and execution is done on the streets by teh mob. Be it Priyantha the SriLankan manager or in Jaranwala last year. So if teh law is scrapped then it means official license is given to these mobs to deliver "Justice" on the spot.

It will take a few decades of deradicalization of teh society before this law can even be touched. We all know what happened to Salman Taseer after he suggested scrapping the law.

 

[CricketCartoons]

It doesn't matter whther the Blasphemy Law is scrapped or not as more often than not these cases dont go to court but instant judgement and execution is done on the streets by teh mob. Be it Priyantha the SriLankan manager or in Jaranwala last year. So if teh law is scrapped then it means official license is given to these mobs to deliver "Justice" on the spot.

It will take a few decades of deradicalization of teh society before this law can even be touched. We all know what happened to Salman Taseer after he suggested scrapping the law.

Instead of scrapping the law, the law should be made stricter, by arresting the accused immediately and do the investigation and judgement in a month max. The state should kill people so that people don't have to kill people. That is one of the goals of justice.

 

[RexRex]

Instead of scrapping the law, the law should be made stricter, by arresting the accused immediately and do the investigation and judgement in a month max. The state should kill people so that people don't have to kill people. That is one of the goals of justice.

Why not just scrap the blasphemy law and then make stricter/enforce the rules that allow arrest of anyone who takes the law into their own hands ?

 

[Stewie]

It doesn't matter whther the Blasphemy Law is scrapped or not as more often than not these cases dont go to court but instant judgement and execution is done on the streets by teh mob. Be it Priyantha the SriLankan manager or in Jaranwala last year. So if teh law is scrapped then it means official license is given to these mobs to deliver "Justice" on the spot.

It will take a few decades of deradicalization of teh society before this law can even be touched. We all know what happened to Salman Taseer after he suggested scrapping the law.

thats absolutely correct. The question is not whether the law itself should be scrapped, its the mob justice mentality thats the problem.our people seem to think they are not doing anything against the law by taking the law into their own hands when it comes to this matter. There are a number of reasons behind this phenomenon. Overall rise in extremism in the country since the 80s, is one. Also, the general perception spread by the Mulla is that "every" muslim is respnsible for dishing out justice for blasphemy. now that is not the law of the land. the judge, jury and executioner part is defined in the laws and it is not in the hands of the common man. Another observation is that people have used this excuse to settle personal scores or to justify violence against minorities.

The bottomline is Pakistanis flout laws all the time and they mean nothing to them. Thats how the people are. Perhaps we should be discussing this negative trait, rather than the law itself.

 

[Champ_Pal]

Pakistan should stop vacillating around Islam. They should either become a full Islamic country or embrace a full democracy like Western nations. When the nation claims to be Islamic but does not implement the rules and laws, people may take matters into their own hands.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Instead of scrapping the law, the law should be made stricter, by arresting the accused immediately and do the investigation and judgement in a month max. The state should kill people so that people don't have to kill people. That is one of the goals of justice.

This is the correct answer. If there is a blasphemy law then the constitution isn't secular. In which case at least the theocratic law should be administered correctly by the qualified bodies, not some rent a mob mullah from adda #26 Mian Channu. Unless the qualified body is actually based in adda #26 Mian Channu.

 

[Cover Drive Six]

Pakistan student sentenced to death over 'blasphemous' WhatsApp messages​

A22-year-old student was sentenced to death by a court in Pakistan while a 17-year-old was sent to jail for life on charges of blasphemy over WhatsApp messages, reported BBC.

The judges of the court in Pakistan's Punjab Province said the 22-year-old was sentenced to death for preparing photos and videos which contained allegedly derogatory words about Prophet Muhammad and his wives.

The court said the student shared the blasphemous content "with the intention of outraging the religious feelings of Muslims".

The teenager was sentenced to life imprisonment for sharing the material. Both denied the charges and their lawyers argued they had been "trapped in a false case", as per the BBC report.

The complaint against the two was filed in 2022 by the cybercrime unit of Pakistan's Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in Lahore.

The complainant alleged that he received the videos and photos with blasphemous content from three different mobile phone numbers. The probe agency established that "obscene material" was sent to the complainant after examining his phone.

The father of the 22-year-old student told the BBC that he was filing an appeal in the Lahore High Court against the verdict on his son.

Blasphemy is punishable by death in Pakistan. Laws against blasphemy were first codified by India's British rulers and expanded in the 1980s under Pakistan's military government.

https://www.msn.com/en-in/news/worl...p&cvid=0a9926e3edbf4eb4a675b7c3f2c6d38e&ei=26

 

[Romali_rotti]

To the OP.

Imo no not really. Pakistan as I have said numerous times here, is a lost cause, it cant be revived, so might as well just leave everything as it is.

 

[Markhor]

The mob frenzies and savage killings are more offensive than the (usually groundless) allegations levelled against the people accused.

The problem is after these laws are enacted and the poison of religious hatred is injected into society's bloodstream, it's very difficult to reverse.

People have been killed for seeking reform to the law forget repealing it.

 

[JaDed]

Its punishable by death? What

 

[CricketCartoons]

Its punishable by death? What

The state should kill so that common people don't have to.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Scraping a law is not that easy. especially when it has a religious aspect to it. People will come crashing down on the roads for this thing.

The last time I can think where secular law was enforced in a Muslim country was Turkey after the fall of the Ottoman empire, but then the nation was shattered so change was probably easier to push through. Plus the Turks were probably a bit more civilised than current day Pakistan which still suffers from mob frenzy mentality which seems to be ingrained even before the creation of Pakistan in the Indic culture.

The question needs to be asked, would secular law be more effective in keeping Pakistanis from cheating the law, or would stricter enforcement of Sharia? Which would shake the cheating conniving minds of the scoundrel more?

 

[Cricket Warrior]

Two women get death sentence in KP’s DI Khan over ‘blasphemy’ murder

Two women have been sentenced to death for murdering their madrassa teacher who they accused of committing blasphemy in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, police said on Wednesday.

Blasphemy is an incendiary charge in Pakistan, where even unproven allegations of insulting Islam have provoked deadly vigilantism.

Police said the “three female students allegedly slaughtered their local female cleric over blasphemy allegations” in Dera Ismail Khan in March 2022.

A district judge “handed down the death penalty to two local madrasa students and a life sentence to one upon proving their involvement in the murder,” local police official Muhammad Haris told AFP.

The pair sentenced to death are aged 23 and 24 whilst the one sentenced to life in jail is 16, he said.

Two women get death sentence in KP’s DI Khan over ‘blasphemy’ murder

Pair sentenced to death are aged 23 and 24 whilst the one sentenced to life in jail is 16

www.aajenglish.tv

 

[ElRaja]

been a long time since i bothered even talking about blasphemy, its the dumbest law and no one can make any kind of mature argument to defend it, but as someone said pak has far more problems then blasphemy laws, just let em have their fun.

 

[rickroll]

been a long time since i bothered even talking about blasphemy, its the dumbest law and no one can make any kind of mature argument to defend it, but as someone said pak has far more problems then blasphemy laws, just let em have their fun.

Sad but true. I feel shocked that there are people in this very thread advocating for this barbaric medieval law.

 

[Justcrazy]

"We need to make it quite strict" - sounds so subjective and full of grey areas. This will only lead to sustaining the current bad status quo of misusing blasphemy laws.

Misusing certain law does not mean you have to scrap that.

There have been several fake cases registered and latter the women were convicted. That does not mean we do away with that. Many murders have been committed by knives , so should it be banned?

There are loopholes in lot of laws , but we learn to live with them.

 

[BouncerGuy]

Woman in Lahore gets life term for ‘blasphemy’

A sessions court on Thursday handed down life imprisonment to a woman on the charge of desecration of the Holy Quran.

Hayer police registered the first information report of the incident in 2021 under section 295-B of Pakistan Penal Code against ‘A’, 40, a resident of Bedian Road.

Defence counsel argued that the accused had been falsely implicated in a fabricated case.

He said there were glaring contradictions and dishonest improvements in the statements of the prosecution witnesses. He maintained that it was the duty of the investigating officer to investigate the matter thoroughly in line with the Police Rules and Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) but it was not done.

The counsel questioned the prosecution story saying why any private person from the vicinity who allegedly witnessed the alleged occurrence did not turn up as complainant and the case was registered on the complaint of a police official.

Assistant District Public Prosecutor Mohazib Awais stated that the accused was caught red-handed while burning a copy of the Quran, which was also recovered on the spot.

He contended that the prosecution proved its case against the accused beyond any shadow of doubt and mere technicalities cannot absolve the accused of her criminal liability.

Additional District & Sessions Judge Imran Sheikh maintained the prosecution established its case beyond any shadow of doubt and the ingredients of section 295-B PPC were fully made out regarding the act of burning a copy of Quran by the accused.

Addressing the point of the woman’s mental health, the judge noted that the issue of mental health of the accused was not pressed forcefully.

However, he said the investigating officer produced the accused, after her arrest, before a judicial magistrate and an application for her medical examination was also submitted.

The judge noted that the magistrate wrote in his order that the accused woman did not want her medical examination and it was also observed by the magistrate that the accused responded to questions “rationally”.

During the trial, the judge observed, no such defence plea was taken by accused that she was suffering from any disorder at the time of alleged occurrence.

SOURCE: DAWN

 

[hassan918]

Fact check: Christian man, son from Sargodha mob violence have not been killed​

Multiple posts and an image circulating on social media since Sunday claimed that the Christian man subjected to mob violence in Sargodha over the alleged desecration of the Holy Quran was killed along with his son. However, a close relative has confirmed the claims to be false.

The police on Saturday rescued the man as well as two Christian families from the enraged mob that wanted to lynch him and barge into the homes of some other members of the minority community.

The incident had taken place after some residents of the colony found burned pages near an electric pole and the houses of the Christian family.

On Sunday, an X user shared an image of a woman cradling a man with his eyes closed.

The caption said: “Protesting and crying for Palestine, while killing this innocent Christian brother and his father, over false blasphemy allegations, explains our hypocrisy. Each and every Pakistani, who was involved, must be arrested and an example should be made!”

The post gained over 16,000 views.

In a similar X post today, LUMS professor Dr Taimur Rahman said: “N* and his father were murdered over false blasphemy allegations. This is what mullahs can achieve even without state power. If they had state power, they will ensure that there would be no non-Muslims left in Pakistan.”

The post gained over 44,000 views and was also reshared by The News journalist Arshad Yousafzai.

However, a nephew of the victim told Dawn.com that he (his uncle) was “fine and alive” and has since been moved to a different hospital for treatment.

Sargodha Regional Police Officer Shariq Kamal also said on Sunday that there was “no casualty and no seriously injured [person]” in the incident .

Additionally, there were no reports or mention of the father or son being killed by Dawn.com’s correspondent or other credible news outlets in their coverage of the incident.

Furthermore, the claims also misattributed the man’s name, which has been withheld for security purposes, as being that of his son.

Therefore, Dawn.com has determined that the claims of a Christian man and his son lynched in Saturday’s act of mob violence in Sargodha are inaccurate. Both the family and police confirmed that there were no deaths and the circulating posts also misattributed the identity of the man.

Source: DAWN

 

[Cricket Warrior]

Murder charges included in Sargodha mob violence FIR after victim dies in Pindi

Murder charges were included in the Sargodha mob violence first information report after the victim succumbed to his injuries in Rawalpindi’s Combined Military Hospital on Monday.

“Section 7 [punishment for acts of terrorism] of the Anti-Terrorism Act has been registered against over 250 to 300 unidentified men and Section 302 [punishment of qatl-i-amd] of the Pakistan Penal Code case was also included in the FIR today,” Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora, the Punjab minorities affairs minister, said in an interview with Spot Light with Munizae Jahangir aired on Aaj News.

He was asked about the investigation into the Sargodha mob violence.

Last month, police arrested 26 people for mob violence and attempt to lynch a Christian man while registering a case against 44 nominated and 300/400 unidentified suspects.

Arora said that at least 28 people have been identified while 34 more suspects would be brought for identification. He added that the investigation was under way and more than 28 suspects have been sent to jail on judicial remand.

He went on to add that most such cases were reported in poverty-stricken areas populated by Christians or Hindus. “It is easy to make accusations,” he said and added that Muslims have also been at the receiving end of blasphemy allegations.

While sharing details of the Sargodha incident, he said that upon visiting the area he came to know that the victim and some people in the area quarrelled two to three days before the incident.


AAJ News

 

[FearlessRoar]

National Assembly passes resolution condemning rising mob lynching incidents​

The National Assembly (NA) on Sunday passed a resolution vehemently condemning the recent horrific and tragic incidents of mob lynching in various parts of the country.

The resolution, moved by Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, emphasized that the right to life is the most cherished right enshrined in the Constitution of Pakistan. It stated, "Every person is to be dealt with in accordance with the law and not otherwise."

The House expressed serious concern over the mob lynching of citizens accused of offenses in Swat and Sargodha, noting with grave concern that such incidents have been on the rise. "Such actions cannot be tolerated in any civilized society," it declared.

The NA urged both the federal and provincial governments to ensure the safety and security of all citizens, including religious minorities and other vulnerable segments of society.

It called for the provincial governments of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab to take immediate and necessary measures to identify, investigate, and prosecute those involved in these incidents under the relevant laws.

Furthermore, the House expressed the expectation that the courts would ensure immediate and speedy justice in these cases. It underscored the need for swift legal action to prevent future occurrences of such tragic events.

National Assembly passes resolution condemning rising mob lynching incidents | The Express Tribune

Lower house stresses need for federal, provincial govts to ensure safety of religious minorities and vulnerable groups

tribune.com.pk

 

[ElRaja]

what value does condemnation have? and what value does prosecution have when the perpetrators believe they will be rewarded for this act?

pakistanis should accept this is part of the countries culture, maybe just give people open warnings so at least people know what they are getting into.

 

[BouncerGuy]

‘Misuse’ of blasphemy law decried by Christians, civil society in Karachi

Scores of people belonging to the Christian community and members of the civil society staged a protest demonstration in front of the Karachi Press Club (KPC) against the death sentence handed down to a Christian youth by an antiterrorism court in Punjab in a blasphemy case.

Sahiwal ATC Special Judge Ziaullah Khan had sentenced the young accused to death on charges of circulating a social media post that led to riots in the town of Jaranwala in August last year.

Dozens of Christian homes and around 20 churches were vandalised and ransacked by mobs in Jaranwala following allegations that a copy of the Holy Quran had been desecrated.

On Tuesday, scores of demonstrators, including women, gathered outside the KPC to decry what they called the “misuse of blasphemy laws”.

The participants in the demonstration include representatives of the Christian community, Minority Rights March, Aurat March and civil society.

They were carrying banners and placards inscribed with slogans like “Stop misuse of blasphemy law”, “Pakistan is the Israel to religious minorities” and death sentence for those who burned churches, etc.

Talking to AFP, Christian pastor Ghazala Shafiq said: “Day by day, Pakistan is becoming a country where minorities aren’t safe anymore. People can do whatever they want to do with us.”

“The people responsible for the riots in Jaranwala are still awaiting trial, while my client has already been given the death sentence. It was the speeches from the mosques that instigated the riots, not this post on social media,” said convict’s lawyer Akmal Bhatti.

DAWN

 

[RexRex]

Following Islam 100% is not extremism like you were insinuating. I was actually shocked you wrote that (post #294). Extremism would be trying to force it onto someone.

I do recall you saying once that the punishment for apostasy was the death penalty. Is that still your view ?

 

[sweep_shot]

I do recall you saying once that the punishment for apostasy was the death penalty. Is that still your view ?

I don't recall saying this or even discussing this with you.

Anyway, to answer your question, this shaykh explains it beautifully:

.


This is my position also. This is the job of Muslim ruler/judges. Not laymen.

Let's stick to topic.

 

[RexRex]

I don't recall saying this or even discussing this with you.

Anyway, to answer your question, this shaykh explains it beautifully:

.


This is my position also. This is the job of Muslim ruler/judges. Not laymen.

You don't recall but I do.

The video you posted says if you leave your religion Islam and convert to another religion, you will be dragged in front of an Muslim ruler/judge and given time to change your mind. If you don't change your mind, then you will be executed. Is that your position ?

 

[sweep_shot]

You don't recall but I do.

The video you posted says if you leave your religion Islam and convert to another religion, you will be dragged in front of an Muslim ruler/judge and given time to change your mind. If you don't change your mind, then you will be executed. Is that your position ?

If you recall, why don't you post a proof that I wrote that?

That's not what the video says, BTW. It seems like you didn't watch the whole thing.

Either way, I don't owe you or any Indian any explanation.

Now stop derailing the thread. Otherwise, I need to put you on ignore like 20 other Indians.

 

[sweep_shot]

@Stewie

Just wanted to clarify to you that I have never supported physical violence for apostasy (@RexRex wrongly accused me of that in other thread; he didn't even have the spine to tag me properly).

For the record, I posted a video on post #43 where mainstream Sunni preacher Shaykh Assim clarified Islamic position regarding this.

This issue is to be handled by Islamic judges/ruler. It is not something common people should handle.

 

[Stewie]

@Stewie

Just wanted to clarify to you that I have never supported physical violence for apostasy (@RexRex wrongly accused me of that in other thread; he didn't even have the spine to tag me properly).

For the record, I posted a video on post #43 where mainstream Sunni preacher Shaykh Assim clarified Islamic position regarding this.

This issue is to be handled by Islamic judges/ruler. It is not something common people should handle.

I hear you. We all know these Hindu posters here come with an agenda. God give them better sense

 

[oatmeal]

Law is secondary, the bigger problem is people randomly targeted by mobs alleging blasphemy. Cops are terrified of doing anything lest they be accused of the same

I remember one lady police who protected a girl from a terrifying fate. All she was wearing was a dress with Arabic letters, not blasphemous in any way.

The system needs to stop being terrified of lawless elements.

 

[BouncerGuy]

Cop shoots blasphemy suspect in Quetta lockup

A police constable gunned down a blasphemy suspect inside the lockup of the Cantt Police Station in Quetta on Thursday.

The suspect, identified as Abdul Ali alias Lala, had been arrested a day earlier by local police on charges of blasphemy.

The suspect, a resident of Kharotabad, a locality on the outskirts of Quetta, was detained after a video in which he allegedly made objectionable remarks about Khatm-i-Nabuwwat (finality of prophethood) and the Holy Prophet (PBUH) went viral. A case was registered against him following the video’s circulation.

An angry mob belonging to religious parties, including Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), gathered outside the Kharotabad Police Station where the suspect was initially held. The crowd demanded custody of the suspect, pelting the police station with stones and even launching grenade attacks in their protest.

The police officials later moved the suspect to the Cantt Police Station for his safety. However, a constable who was posted at the Kharotabad station arrived at Cantt and, after conversing with other officers, opened fire on the suspect in the lockup.

The cop “suddenly opened fire on the suspect who was in the police lockup”, Inspector General Police in Balochistan Moazzam Jah Ansari told Dawn, adding that the police officer used his personal pistol.

The suspect was killed on the spot as he received multiple bullet injuries, another police officer confirmed. The police constable, identified as Saad Khan Sarhadi, was arrested after the incident, officials said, adding that further investigation was in progress.

It is the first incident of its kind in Quetta, where a serving police officer has killed a suspect facing blasphemy charges while in custody.

DAWN NEWS

 

[BouncerGuy]

Pakistan police shoot dead blasphemy suspect

Police in southern Pakistan have shot dead a doctor accused of blasphemy, drawing condemnation from human rights groups.

Dr Shahnawaz Kanbhar was killed "just by chance" in shootout with officers who did not know it was him, according to a local police chief in Sindh province Niaz Khoso

Dr Kanbhar had gone into hiding on Tuesday after being accused of insulting Islam’s prophet Muhammad and sharing blasphemous content on social media.

He is the second blasphemy suspect in Pakistan to be shot dead in the space of a week.

According to a police report, officers in the city of Mirpur Khas had tried to stop two men riding on a motorcycle on Wednesday, in order to search their vehicle.

Instead of complying, the report says, one of the men opened fire. A gun battle ensued, in which Dr Kanbhar was killed.

It was only after the shootout that officers learned that the man they had shot was Dr Kanbhar, according to Khoso, the local police chief. The second person on the motorcycle escaped.

Another police official, Khas Asad Chaudhry, told BBC Urdu that Dr Kanbhar was accidentally shot by his companion on the motorcycle.

However, a relative of Dr Kanbhar has told BBC Urdu that he was killed in a "fake encounter" - something which local police deny.

The Interior Minister for Sindh province Zia-ul-Hasan Linjar has ordered an independent inquiry into Dr Kanbhar's death.

The killing of Dr Kanbhar comes a week after an officer opened fire inside a police station in the south-western city of Quetta, fatally wounding another suspect who was being held on accusations of blasphemy.

The deaths have drawn strong condemnation from the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), which said it was “gravely concerned by the alleged extrajudicial killing of two people accused of blasphemy.”

“This pattern of violence in cases of blasphemy, in which law enforcement personnel are allegedly involved, is an alarming trend,” it said in a statement issued on Friday.

Dr Kanbhar was shot dead a day after Islamists in nearby Umerkot staged a protest demanding his arrest and burned down his clinic.

His relatives told BBC Urdu that they had to travel for miles to bury his body, after having been blocked by local people and officials.

The incident in Sindh province comes a week after an officer opened fire inside a police station in the south-western city of Quetta, fatally wounding another suspect held on accusations of blasphemy.

The man had been arrested last Wednesday after officers rescued him from an enraged mob that claimed he had insulted Muhammad.

However, the man's family and tribe said they forgave the officer and that the man had hurt the sentiments of Muslims by insulting Muhammad, according to local media reports.

Though killings of blasphemy suspects by mobs are common, such killings by police are rare in Pakistan.

Accusations, or even simply rumours, of blasphemy spark rioting and rampage by mobs that can escalate into killings.

Under Pakistan’s blasphemy laws, anyone found guilty of insulting Islam or Islamic religious figures can be sentenced to death – though authorities have yet to carry out a death sentence for blasphemy.

Pakistan has witnessed a surge in attacks on blasphemy suspects in recent years.

In June, a mob broke into a police station in the north-western town of Madyan, snatched a detainee who was a tourist, and then killed him over allegations that he had desecrated Islam’s holy book.

BBC

 

[Champ_Pal]

Very unfortunate.

It will be interesting to see what exactly was shared on the social media that angered clerics. It gives a fair idea about what exactly constitutes blasphemy for the clerics.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

Very unfortunate.

It will be interesting to see what exactly was shared on the social media that angered clerics. It gives a fair idea about what exactly constitutes blasphemy for the clerics.

Could be anything.

Lots of times blasphemy is used an excuse to settle petty disputes.

Nobody should have to fear for their lives for Facebook content

 

[Hitman]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1837061597639942565

 

[Romali_rotti]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1837061597639942565

If true, which most likely it is, What a wonderful site and a wonderful country.

Pakistan is a useless, gone, lost cause, it will never revive itself.

 

[HalBass9]

One could easily find a similar celebration in India, where a Hindutva mob celebrates the lynching of a Muslim over a cow.

Mob violence seems deeply embedded in the DNA passed down from our ancestors, and we continue to struggle with it, even when religion has changed in 2024.

 

[Champ_Pal]

One could easily find a similar celebration in India, where a Hindutva mob celebrates the lynching of a Muslim over a cow.

Mob violence seems deeply embedded in the DNA passed down from our ancestors, and we continue to struggle with it, even when religion has changed in 2024.

The question to be asked is whether the Blasphemy law itself is Islamic or not.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

The question to be asked is whether the Blasphemy law itself is Islamic or not.

That a question that has the potential to be debated.

However what is unquestionably true is that this type of extra judicial killing without trial and mob justice is not Islamic.

 

[Stewie]

That a question that has the potential to be debated.

However what is unquestionably true is that this type of extra judicial killing without trial and mob justice is not Islamic.

I have been looking into this a lot lately and at best blasphemy is something that needs to be looked at on a case by case basis. A single isolated incident of utterance under duress, anger, provocation, etc requires no action.

If you look at all instances of history where action was taken it was when there was a danger of a political movement against Islam where the Muslim state would struggle for existence or be challenged by some sort of crisis or invasion.

There is no mention of punishment for blasphemy in the Quran at all. I am actually strongly in favor of scrapping this law. It has done more damage than good.

 

[HalBass9]

The question to be asked is whether the Blasphemy law itself is Islamic or not.

I'd like to believe it isn't as Allah has promised to preserve Qu'ran.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

I have been looking into this a lot lately and at best blasphemy is something that needs to be looked at on a case by case basis. A single isolated incident of utterance under duress, anger, provocation, etc requires no action.

If you look at all instances of history where action was taken it was when there was a danger of a political movement against Islam where the Muslim state would struggle for existence or be challenged by some sort of crisis or invasion.

There is no mention of punishment for blasphemy in the Quran at all. I am actually strongly in favor of scrapping this law. It has done more damage than good.

What do you think will happen if the law is scrapped?

 

[Stewie]

What do you think will happen if the law is scrapped?

Actually you are right. Realistically speaking nothing will happen. It will make matters probably worse and there will be rioting and this and that.

The problem is not per se the law itself. The problem is extremism and dishonesty. Extremists want the law and it’s blind interpretation and the dishonest want to abuse the law and settle personal scores through it.

 

[Champ_Pal]

That a question that has the potential to be debated.

However what is unquestionably true is that this type of extra judicial killing without trial and mob justice is not Islamic.

Extra judicial killings are a sign of lack of faith in the laws of the nation. I agree that the blasphemer should be given a chance to explain his position in front of a judge.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

Actually you are right. Realistically speaking nothing will happen. It will make matters probably worse and there will be rioting and this and that.

The problem is not per se the law itself. The problem is extremism and dishonesty. Extremists want the law and it’s blind interpretation and the dishonest want to abuse the law and settle personal scores through it.

Yep.

I mean this law should actually protect people from mob justice and give them a chance to appeal etc.

But the mobs kill them anyway.

Scrapping the law won't stop the killing.

Overall I do agree that the law should be removed or modified but it would no difference to Pakistan in its current state.

 

[Red-Indian]

Yep.

I mean this law should actually protect people from mob justice and give them a chance to appeal etc.

But the mobs kill them anyway.

Scrapping the law won't stop the killing.

Overall I do agree that the law should be removed or modified but it would no difference to Pakistan in its current state.

Agreed. Pakistan is too far gone now for something as minor as repealing a blasphemy law to make an immediate difference.

However if a popular figure (like say Imran Khan) had the courage to standup and campaign for it's removal, it would make a huge difference. Mob violence wouldn't disappear but it would be a more shameful, quiet activity.

I always give the example of Child marriage. Placing a ban on child marriage didn't immediately eliminate it. I'm sure there must have been a lot of opposition from Tribal elders etc. for such interference and they must've ignored it for ages. Over time and accompanied by societal and legal pressure though, India has virtually eliminated it and I understand Pakistan has made huge strides as well.

If no one is willing to even take the first step just because it won't solve all problems, then nothing is possible.

 

[Stewie]

Agreed. Pakistan is too far gone now for something as minor as repealing a blasphemy law to make an immediate difference.

However if a popular figure (like say Imran Khan) had the courage to standup and campaign for it's removal, it would make a huge difference. Mob violence wouldn't disappear but it would be a more shameful, quiet activity.

I always give the example of Child marriage. Placing a ban on child marriage didn't immediately eliminate it. I'm sure there must have been a lot of opposition from Tribal elders etc. for such interference and they must've ignored it for ages. Over time and accompanied by societal and legal pressure though, India has virtually eliminated it and I understand Pakistan has made huge strides as well.

If no one is willing to even take the first step just because it won't solve all problems, then nothing is possible.

Imran was not even in the power for that long and within a couple of years had to deal with COVID fiasco. I would like to think he would have handled it but I guess we will never know.

 

[Red-Indian]

Imran was not even in the power for that long and within a couple of years had to deal with COVID fiasco. I would like to think he would have handled it but I guess we will never know.

I find that very tough to believe. After I made the post, I tried to google for a single instance where he spoke against the law - even gently but couldn't find any.

Given his rightward tilt over the last few years, I would suspect he believes death for blasphemers whether by law or mob is perfectly justified.

 

[Stewie]

I find that very tough to believe. After I made the post, I tried to google for a single instance where he spoke against the law - even gently but couldn't find any.

Given his rightward tilt over the last few years, I would suspect he believes death for blasphemers whether by law or mob is perfectly justified.

That's a huge assumption to make. I believe I have a pretty rightward tilt and I have actually reviewed all the various instances and arrived at the conclusion its not mandatory to put someone to death over this stuff.

But regardless of his own personal beliefs on the subject, I think we need to be a bit more realistic about this whole situation. When you have extremism and badmashi of these extremists rampant in the country with the backing of the military establishment, what chance do you really have to actually make a huge difference by removing the law?

Like DeadlyVenom said, it wont have made much difference and things would have gone worse.

 

[Red-Indian]

That's a huge assumption to make. I believe I have a pretty rightward tilt and I have actually reviewed all the various instances and arrived at the conclusion its not mandatory to put someone to death over this stuff.

But regardless of his own personal beliefs on the subject, I think we need to be a bit more realistic about this whole situation. When you have extremism and badmashi of these extremists rampant in the country with the backing of the military establishment, what chance do you really have to actually make a huge difference by removing the law?

Like DeadlyVenom said, it wont have made much difference and things would have gone worse.

By that standard, we shouldn't have outlawed dowry, the caste system, sati, child marriage - all the nonsense that tradition and religion allow. I'm all for giving religion or sentiment it's space say making blasphemy or holocaust denial illegal but stuff like death penalty for blasphemy or cow slaughter is absurd to be allowed to remain in law irrespective of it's enforceability.

 

[Stewie]

By that standard, we shouldn't have outlawed dowry, the caste system, sati, child marriage - all the nonsense that tradition and religion allow. I'm all for giving religion or sentiment it's space say making blasphemy or holocaust denial illegal but stuff like death penalty for blasphemy or cow slaughter is absurd to be allowed to remain in law irrespective of it's enforceability.

I would actually like to find out how many people have gotten the death sentence for blasphemy in Pakistan. I think the law itself is not singularly for capital punishment. I think its only in most extreme cases.

Most unfortunately, the issue is with the extra judicial killings on the matter. not what the courts have handed down to the accused.

 

[Red-Indian]

I would actually like to find out how many people have gotten the death sentence for blasphemy in Pakistan. I think the law itself is not singularly for capital punishment. I think its only in most extreme cases.

Most unfortunately, the issue is with the extra judicial killings on the matter. not what the courts have handed down to the accused.

There was an Amnesty international report floating around. I'll see if I can find it. I think the issue is not so much with actual death sentences executed as with the number of accused languishing in prison on mere accusations with trials moving at a snail's pace and judges not willing to try the cases for fear of being lynched if they acquit.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

By that standard, we shouldn't have outlawed dowry, the caste system, sati, child marriage - all the nonsense that tradition and religion allow. I'm all for giving religion or sentiment it's space say making blasphemy or holocaust denial illegal but stuff like death penalty for blasphemy or cow slaughter is absurd to be allowed to remain in law irrespective of it's enforceability.

Need the Mullahs to take the first step here before anything can be done.

They are able to amass lethal street power over this issue.

Anybody even criticising the law is considered to be a blasphemer. It's incredibly dangerous for anyone to put their head above the parapet.

 

[Red-Indian]

Need the Mullahs to take the first step here before anything can be done.

They are able to amass lethal street power over this issue.

Anybody even criticising the law is considered to be a blasphemer. It's incredibly dangerous for anyone to put their head above the parapet.

The Mullahs will never take the first step. Just the hindu priests weren't going to stand up against the caste system.

It will take a leader with a populist touch who has a mass following of his/her own like Ambedkar in India. Hence my suggestion of Imran. Impractical I know but much relevant than his crazy rantings against corruption.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

The Mullahs will never take the first step. Just the hindu priests weren't going to stand up against the caste system.

It will take a leader with a populist touch who has a mass following of his/her own like Ambedkar in India. Hence my suggestion of Imran. Impractical I know but much relevant than his crazy rantings against corruption.

Imran relied on the religious right for votes too. It's not an issue that he would speak about.

I can't see or even think of any leader brave enough to speak about it.

 

[RexRex]

This is sharia law in action, the mob is merely following what their religion demands of them -> death penalty for blasphemy.

 

[Aang_The_last_airbender]

No one should be allowed to mock a religion. Death is pretty small punishment for the blasphemers.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

This is sharia law in action, the mob is merely following what their religion demands of them -> death penalty for blasphemy.

The law in the US demands that a thief is jailed.

If some members of the public get together and lock an alleged thief in their basement would you say they are following what the law demands of them?

 

[RexRex]

The law in the US demands that a thief is jailed.

If some members of the public get together and lock an alleged thief in their basement would you say they are following what the law demands of them?

That's why I call it indirect sharia .. due to lack of state involvement here in enforcing islamic punishment. However I am sure we can agree the mob gets its inspiration from religious edicts & prescriptions.

 

[Hitman]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1837073017807249592

 

[DeadlyVenom]

That's why I call it indirect sharia .. due to lack of state involvement here in enforcing islamic punishment. However I am sure we can agree the mob gets its inspiration from religious edicts & prescriptions.

Yeah you are right with your last sentence.

 

[Aang_The_last_airbender]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1837073017807249592

Perfection!!