LAHORE: As she admitted that blasphemy allegations were also used to settle scores, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Thursday said the government would not spare anyone if a mob took the law into their own hands over such an allegation.

Addressing a meeting of religious scholars of different schools of thought in the provincial capital, the CM said there had been an increase in the desecration of Holy Quran incidents but such allegations were also used for settling personal scores. “Sometimes to settle some other score these allegations are levelled,” the CM said, adding, “I want all of us to sit together to prevent such incidents and see what is the reason behind this increase.”

“Many times, these allegations are used to settle scores. If a mob gathers and takes the law into its own hands without determining who did what, then no one would be spared,” the CM vowed. CM Maryam highlighted the importance of speedy police action to determine the veracity of such allegations as well as doling out the sentence if someone was found guilty.

“No matter what happens, we must not allow anyone to take the law into their hands, set up courts in their streets and areas, and issue sentences and fatwas (edicts),” she warned.

Taking note of the matter, she said without determining the facts after such an allegation announcements were made (from mosques) and a few moments before the police arrived the people gathered on the streets and “arson, vandalism, and violence start there”.

“We all strive to display the beautiful face of our religion before the world. Today’s situation is a cause of great concern for me as the CM.”

Over the recent months, two blasphemy-related violent incidents involving mobs were reported in Sargodha and Swat, which were also condemned by the Senate through a resolution. Last year, a mob set fire to over a dozen churches and burnt down the houses of the Christian community in Jaranwala over blasphemy allegations.

In Sahiwal, the crime of committing rape with a child was proved in a seminary.

“When the police took action against the clerics then fatwas were issued against me on social media. When the crime is proven, we must catch the culprit and bring him to justice.” “My duty is to do justice, no Muslim, Hindu or Christian remains a criminal after the conviction of crime and the criminal must be punished.”

CM Maryam also said that 50,000 social media accounts and pages had been blocked recently by the Punjab police on account of posting hate material.

Defamation law

CM Maryam also defended ‘controversial’ the Punjab Defamation Act 2024, saying it was needed the most to stop the practice of mud-slinging. “I fail to understand why the people are opposing this law. If punishment is not determined…then no one is saved from this,” the CM said.

She said the need for defamation law was much more than before. “The one who has mic thinks he/she is empowered to tarnish anybody’s reputation. No one can be allowed to malign anyone,” she declared and added it was a great sin to malign anyone.

The CM further said this law was not against the media, saying if anyone levelled allegations they would have to give evidence. “However, how much criticism is made on me I don’t care,” she clarified. She thanked the religious scholars for supporting the Punjab government on the defamation law. The controversial legislation about defamation which imposes curbs on press freedom became a provincial law last month.

The law, which has already drawn much flak from journalists, civil society organisations, as well as the opposition, however, landed in the Lahore High Court soon after its promulgation.

Published in Dawn, July 5th, 2024