Asia Bibi: fears over safety, controversy over stay on pardon
Lahore (AsiaNews) - The president of the National Commission on the Status of Women, Hanis Haroon said that the Commission is concerned about the security of Asia Bibi, still in prison, while waiting for the date to be fixed for the examination of an appeal filed by her family against the decision at first instance that sentenced her to death for blasphemy. Meanwhile controversy has broken out in Pakistan on the decision of Lahore High Court to grant a stay against any action leading to a presidential pardon by President Asif Ali Zardari, while debate continues about the need to change or cancel the law on blasphemy.
The president of the Supreme Court lawyers, Asma Jahangir, yesterday challenged the declaration of the High Court of Lahore. The High Court had said that President Zardari could not pardon Asia Bibi before the appeal against the death sentence was considered. Asma Jahangir expressed surprise that a stay had been granted on an action that was yet to take place. She disapproved of the idea of suspending the constitutional prerogative of the executive. " If they want to get popular there are other ways to do it. Do not twist the laws as court verdicts become precedence". A constitutional expert, Dr.. Basharat Qadir, has corroborated this view, since art. 45 of the Constitution empowers the President to grant, amend or repeal pardons, as well as to suspend any sentence issued by any court, tribunal or other authority. The debate on the blasphemy laws continues. Asma Jahangir criticized the blasphemy law in its present form and observed that laws should be made to protect religious minorities and not to provide a tool to some people to exploit it in the name of religion. "I have never seen anybody committing blasphemy. Why would somebody do it in front of a religious leader.” She pointed out that most of the time the complainant was a religious leader. She said only a mad person would do it and mentally challenged persons deserved mercy".
The minister for religious minorities, Shahbaz Bhatti, said the law was created by Gen Zia ul Haq to appease religious elements with a mala fide intent to prolong his rule. Bhatti said he had recommended repeal of the amendments to the law introduced by General Zia or some significant changes. He said the president had announced formation of a high-level committee which after consultations with all stakeholders, including religious scholars and political leaders, would submit its recommendations to the parliament. Former chairman of the Council of Islamic Ideology Dr Khalid Masood said there was ‘religious illiteracy’ even among the literates. He said nowhere in the Quran there is mention of death sentence for those committing blasphemous acts.
In the meantime, signatures continue to pour in for the campaign launched by AsiaNews. Seven thousand signatures have been collected to date, including hundreds of signatures collected and mailed by the community of Communion and Liberation of the city of Riccione. Write to:
.png)
16/09/2017 10:37
