DATE=5/18/2000
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
TITLE=PAKISTAN / BLASPHEMY LAW
NUMBER=5-46337
BYLINE=SCOTT ANGER
DATELINE=ISLAMABAD
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: After coming under mounting pressure from
Pakistan's powerful religious parties, the country's
military leader General Pervez Musharraf has withdrawn
a proposal to change the nation's controversial
blasphemy law. As Correspondent Scott Anger reports
from the Pakistani capital, the law is seen by
religious groups as a needed protection of Islam,
while minority groups see it as an unfair law that is
used to intimidate non-Muslims.
TEXT: Few other laws have drawn as much controversy
as Pakistan's anti-blasphemy law. Written and enacted
by military dictator General Zia ul-Haq in the mid-
1980's, its enforcement has become controversial and,
according to the government and human rights groups,
rife with abuse.
Several incidents of the law being used to settle
personal disputes and target minorities in the pre-
dominantly Muslim Pakistan have been reported. Past
political governments in Pakistan have been unable to
amend the law because of the pressure from Islamic
leaders.
But last month, military leader General Pervez
Musharraf dared to propose a change in the law which
would have made it more difficult to accuse someone of
blasphemy in Pakistan. The general proposed having
blasphemy complaints handled by a higher authority at
the district level - rather than having a local police
officer decide on any action.
While the move was welcomed by human-rights
organizations, religious groups quickly protested the
change, which was announced by the general at a human-
rights conference in Islamabad last month.
Pakistan's Human Rights Commission Chairman I-A Rehman
says General Musharraf's decision to backdown will
further strengthen the fundamentalist groups in the
country.
/// REHMAN ACT ///
This is not a very happy signal to the world
that this regime is vulnerable - or concerned
about - whatever noise the mullahs (religious
leaders) make.
/// END ACT ///
A spokesman for the leading Christian group in
Pakistan, Shahbaz Bhatti, says minority groups will
feel more insecure following the government's
decision.
/// BHATTI ACT ///
It shows that the religious extremists in
Pakistan are very strong, and can affect any
government. The withdrawal of the decision will
increase religious intolerance in Pakistan.
/// END ACT ///
Minority groups have struggled for years against the
blasphemy law. Death sentences have been handed down
to Christians and others by Pakistani courts for
defiling the name of the prophet Mohammed.
As a protest to one such sentence, given to a young
Christian man in 1998, Catholic Bishop John Joseph,
committed suicide by setting himself on fire during a
street demonstration. The shocking event succeeded in
focusing attention on Pakistan's controversial law.
No death sentences under the law have been carried
out.
The leader of Pakistan's largest religious party, Qazi
Hussain' of the Jamaat-e-Islami Party, does not agree
the law is unfair to non-Muslims.
/// HUSSAIN ACT ///
This is not a very big issue; this has been
exaggerated out of proportion. I do not think
that the Christian minority here in Pakistan has
got any special complaint. This (the law) is
not against minorities or against Christians or
against anybody.
/// END ACT ///
Although General Musharraf has withdrawn his proposal
to change the law, religious leaders have decided to
go ahead with a three-day, general strike to press the
government into including Islamic ideals into the
interim constitution. The provisional constitution
was introduced by the military after it ousted the
democratic government last October.
Many observers see the retreat on the blasphemy law by
General Musharraf as a sign of weakness on a minor
issue. They have expressed doubt whether the military
government can carry out its plans for tackling bigger
issues, such as reforming the political system and
reviving the country's beleaguered economy. (SIGNED)
NEB/SA/RAE
18-May-2000 08:51 AM EDT (18-May-2000 1251 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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