In 1977, however, the late General Zia-ul-Huq began a process of Islamising the Pakistani constitution. In 1982, a presidential ordinance made defiling the Holy Qu’ran punishable by life imprisonment (Section 295-A and B), whilst in 1991, General Zia made Sharia Law the supreme law in Pakistan.
Under pressure from religious extremists, the blasphemy law was again amended in 1986 to include defamation of the Holy Prophet, whether directly or indirectly, both in spoken and written form, as well as by way of impersonation (Section 295-C). For the first time, blasphemy also carried the possibility of the death sentence.
When, in 1991, the Federal Shariah Court rescinded the option of life imprisonment, the death penalty became the automatic punishment for anyone found guilty of blasphemy.
Injuring or defiling place of worship, with intent to insult the religion of any class: Whoever, destroys, damages or defiles any place of worship, or any object held sacred by any class of persons with the intention of thereby insulting the religion of any class of persons or with the knowledge that any class of persons is likely to consider such destruction, damage or defilement as an insult to their religion, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.
Deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs: Whoever with deliberate and malicious intention of outraging the religious feelings of any class of the citizens of Pakistan by words, either spoken or written or by visible representations, insults or attempts to insult the religion or the religious beliefs of that class, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to 10 years, or with fine, or with both.
Defiling etc. a copy of the Holy Koran: Whoever wilfully defiles, damages or desecrates a copy of the Holy Koran or an extract there from or uses it in any derogatory manner or for any unlawful purpose shall be punishable with imprisonment for life.
Use of derogatory remarks etc., in respect of the Holy Prophet: Whoever by words, either spoken or written or by visible representation, or by any imputation, innuendo, or insinuation, directly or indirectly, defiles the sacred name of the Holy Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) shall be punished with death.
The Islamisation of Pakistan’s constitution has had devastating consequences for the country’s religious minorities, not least because they exacerbate religious intolerance and fuel unnecessary tension between members of different religions.
Whilst Article 25 stipulates that all citizens are equal before the law, in reality the blasphemy laws disregard Pakistan’s multi-faith society by protecting only Muslims and the Islamic faith. Those who object to any aspect of the constitution or the Islamic faith would rather stay silent than risk their lives by voicing their objections publicly.
The penalty for those convicted of blasphemy is death and yet astonishingly the law books do not even clearly define blasphemy, let alone make any provision for cases of false accusation. Blasphemy charges can be brought against any individual with nothing more than a “reliable” testimony and once made, can lead to immediate and indefinite detention without bail for the accused. It is not uncommon for victims to spend weeks, months, even years, in prison before their case is brought before the court and the experience of torture and abuse are not uncommon.
“The influence of a given religion in a nation ought never to mean that citizens of another religion can be subject to discrimination in social life or, even worse, that violence against them can be tolerated.”
- Pope Emeritus Benedict
“There is a very clear sense that people are nervous about the misuse of the blasphemy law, as a tool of politics or “…a mob thing […] ” he added, flanked by two Pakistani bishops. He earlier told reporters: “Equality under the law is important…”
- Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury
“The law for punishing blasphemy against the Prophet (sws) that is invoked in Pakistan has no foundation in the Qur'ān or Hadith.”
- Javed Ahmad Ghamidi, Renowned Quranic scholar & Islamic modernist theologist
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