ISLAMABAD: A day after the National Assembly resolved to insert safeguards into the blasphemy law, the Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) and the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) reneged on their commitment.

On Tuesday, the lower house had unanimously adopted a resolution condemning the brutal murder of Abdul Wali Khan University student Mashal Khan on fabricated charges of blasphemy.

On that day, JI’s Sher Akbar Khan and JUI-F’s Naeema Kishwer Khan had spoken in favour of the resolution, even though the latter had not signed it. But on Wednesday, JI parliamentary leader Sahibzada Tariqullah came out in opposition to the proposal, saying that his party would not support any changes to the blasphemy law.

“The law is the law; whosoever forms a lynch mob should be acted against. But the blasphemy law does not call on people to dispense mob justice, there is nothing wrong with it,” he declared.

“The problems we are facing are due to the lack of proper enforcement of these laws,” he insisted, adding that if people were punished under the blasphemy law, there would be no room for mob justice.

Ms Khan also seemed to have a change of heart, saying that there was nothing in the blasphemy law that made people take the law into their own hands and called for its proper implementation.

Published in Dawn, April 20th, 2017

Opinion

First line of defence

First line of defence

Pakistan’s foreign service has long needed reform to be able to adapt to global changes and leverage opportunities in a more multipolar world.

Editorial

Eid amidst crises
Updated 31 Mar, 2025

Eid amidst crises

Until the Muslim world takes practical steps to end these atrocities, these besieged populations will see no joy.
Women’s rights
Updated 01 Apr, 2025

Women’s rights

Such judgements, and others directly impacting women’s rights should be given more airtime in media.
Not helping
Updated 02 Apr, 2025

Not helping

If it's committed to peace in Balochistan, the state must draw a line between militancy and legitimate protest.
Hard habits
Updated 30 Mar, 2025

Hard habits

Their job is to ensure that social pressures do not build to the point where problems like militancy and terrorism become a national headache.
Dreams of gold
30 Mar, 2025

Dreams of gold

PROSPECTS of the Reko Diq project taking off soon seem to have brightened lately following the completion of the...
No invitation
30 Mar, 2025

No invitation

FOR all of Pakistan’s hockey struggles, including their failure to qualify for the Olympics and World Cup as well...