Whatsapp

"   BLASPHEMY LAWS IN PAKISTAN A DETAILED EXAMINATION   By   Dr. Zaheer-ud-Din Babar Awan, Federal Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Pakistan   "The instant reference emanates from a number of letters written by different individuals, organizations, foreigners etc, to the Prime Minister of Pakistan which were sent to this Ministry vide PM's Secretariat U.O. No.5(30)/FSA/2010, dated 30th December, 2010 and OGW/Misc/Asia bibi/2011, dated 15th January, 2011 as well as a separate reference sent by the Ministry of Interior vide their letter No. U. O.7/32/2010-Ptns, dated 8th December, 2010 to this Ministry. All are related to the conviction of Mst. Aasia Noreen (a convict sentenced under the blasphemy law by a court of competent jurisdiction). Still another reference is sent by the Ministry of Minorities calling for amendment in the blasphemy laws in Pakistan.   The Ministry of Foreign Affairs vide U.O. No. DG(Americas)-1/2010, dated 23rd November, 2010 sent a reference on the same issue to this Ministry.   The Secretariat of National Assembly of Pakistan vide No.F.23(45)/2010-Legis, dated 15th December, 2010 sent a reference seeking views/comments of this Ministry on a Private Member's Bill moved by Mst. Shehrbano Rehman (Sherry Rehman), MNA, titled as "the Criminal Law (Review of Punishment for Blasphemy) (Amendment) Bill, 2010", calling for amendment in the blasphemy laws in Pakistan as enshrined in the Pakistan Penal Code 1860 as well as in the Code of Criminal Procedure 1898. The query of the National Assembly Secretariat for ready reference is reproduced hereinbelow:   "The undersigned is directed to state that Ms. Sherry Rehman, MNA has given notice of her intention to introduce the Criminal…