CII debate on blasphemy law: Move for change scuttled by hardliners

Published September 20, 2013
Hardliners in the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) joined hands on Thursday to strike down a proposal for awarding death sentence to people making false accusations under the blasphemy law. — File photo
Hardliners in the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) joined hands on Thursday to strike down a proposal for awarding death sentence to people making false accusations under the blasphemy law. — File photo

ISLAMABAD: Hardliners in the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) joined hands on Thursday to strike down a proposal for awarding death sentence to people making false accusations under the blasphemy law.

A meeting of the council on the second day witnessed serious ideological differences between the hardliners and the moderates over the proposal to award the same punishment to a false accuser as to an accused.

After having failed to reach a consensus, CII Chairman Maulana Mohammad Khan Sherani decided to form a two-member committee, comprising retired Justice Mushtaq Ahmed Memon and retired Justice Nazir Akhtar, to look into the matter and submit their findings.

The situation turned ugly when Maulana Tahir Ashrafi criticised the misuse of the blasphemy law. He was of the opinion that because of this misuse the Muslim Ummah was getting a bad name and Ulema in Pakistan were being maligned.

Maulana Ashrafi said those making a false accusation needed to face death penalty because the words attributed to the accused were actually uttered by the accuser.

He even went on to allege that false cases provided certain ‘maulvis’ an opportunity to exploit the situation in different ways.

The statement annoyed some members who went on to call for Maulana Ashrafi’s resignation as member of the CII. The members opposed to amendments to the blasphemy law maintained that they did not want to discourage people from coming forward and lodge complaints against blasphemers. They said there was already a law — section 194 of the PPC — which envisaged punishments for lodging a false FIR.

The CII chairman said an official announcement would be made on Monday after the committee submitted its findings on the matter.

The council rejected a draft bill for establishing homes for the elderly. Maulana Sherani said this idea was against the norms and traditions of society.

The council also rejected the Women Protection Bill, 2006, saying it was contrary to the sprit of Quran and Sharia.

Opinion

Editorial

Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...
New terror wave
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

New terror wave

The time has come for decisive government action against militancy.
Development costs
27 Mar, 2024

Development costs

A HEFTY escalation of 30pc in the cost of ongoing federal development schemes is one of the many decisions where the...
Aitchison controversy
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

Aitchison controversy

It is hoped that higher authorities realise that politics and nepotism have no place in schools.