US slams PDM govt for using blasphemy card against Imran
Pakistan
The report mentioned that political leaders used inflammatory religious language against rivals
(Web Desk) – The United States has once again castigated the Pakistan government for using the blasphemy card against former prime minister Imran Khan.
The US released annual report on international religious freedom which mentioned that “several political leaders used inflammatory religious language to attack their political rivals last year.”
The annual report covers 2022 events.
“On Sept 13, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leader Javed Latif, in a press conference, accused former prime minister Imran Khan of ‘attacking the basic principles of Islam’ by ‘supporting’ the Ahmadiyya community while he was in office,” the report pointed out.
“Mr Latif accused Khan of giving interviews to foreign media in which he promised that Qadianis [Ahmadis] will be given religious freedom,” the report added.
The report also mentioned that JUI-F leader Maulana Fazlur Rahman tweeted on Sept 7 calling Mr Khan a “pro-Qadiani” and a “Jewish agent”. Leaders of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf responded by accusing the government of “spreading religious bigotry and hatred”, the report added.
The report
The US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) issues its annual report on the issue in the world. The commission raised this issue in its initial report as well, which was released on May 1, noting that “the new government under Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, which took office in April 2022, weaponised the country’s blasphemy laws against Mr Khan and his cabinet members”.
It may be recalled that the issue was also raised at a US State Department news briefing when spokesperson Vedant Patel said the United States “strongly oppose(s) laws that impede the ability of any individuals … to choose a faith, practice a faith, change their religion, not have a religion, or tell others about their religious beliefs and practices”.
The USCIRF, which sent the report to Congress as an official document, noted that blasphemy in Pakistan “remained a substantial threat to religious freedom, as did the sort of mob violence that has long accompanied such accusations”.
It called on Pakistan to repeal the blasphemy law, and until such repeal, enact reforms to make blasphemy a bailable offence.
The report also mentioned that police “at times killed, physically abused, or failed to protect members of religious minorities. And courts continued to enforce blasphemy laws, punishment for which ranged up to the death penalty”.
The Pakistan government, however, has never executed anyone for blasphemy, the report added.
Quoting reports by various civil society organisations, USCIRF said that at least 52 people were accused of blasphemy or related religion-based criminal charges during 2022, the majority of whom were Ahmadis.
At least four individuals charged with blasphemy during previous years were awarded death sentences in 2022, two Christians and two Muslims.
The report noted that individuals convicted and sentenced to death in well-publicised blasphemy cases dating as far back as 2014, including Nadeem James, Taimoor Raza, and Junaid Hafeez, remained in prison awaiting action on their appeals.
Ramzan Bibi remained free on bail while awaiting trial for blasphemy.
In 2022, courts overturned some blasphemy convictions upon appeal and acquitted or granted bail to some individuals who had spent years in prison on blasphemy charges.
Those acquitted or released on bail include Qamar Aqash, Nadeem Samson, Stephen Masih Salamat, Mansha Masih, Mubasher Ahmad, Ghulam Ahmad, Ehsan Ahmad, Asim Aslam, and Mohammad Shahid Khan.
