Blasphemy, a draconian law, has been used over the decades in Pakistan as a clampdown mostly against minorities, where death sentence has also been sentenced in the past.

Asia Bibi, who was acquitted one year ago, battled death sentence for eight years, which became the country's most high-profile case. After Bibi's acquittal, there were mass protests in the country before she moved to Canada.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-university-professor-sentenced-to-death-for-blasphemy-269461">Pakistan: University professor sentenced to death for blasphemy</a>

So let's look at what has changed in the country where hardliners traditionally ruled the roost.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/finally-free-asia-bibi-breaks-silence-on-hellish-time-in-pak-prison-life-in-exile-277580">Finally free! Asia Bibi breaks silence on hellish time in Pak prison, life in exile</a>

"Before Asia Bibi, dozens of maulanas (religious scholars) were coming to my hearings," said the Christian pastor Adnan Prince, who is accused of desecrating the Koran.&nbsp;

"After that, they didn't come anymore."

However, the situation is not completely rosy as a former judge said that lower courts are often threatened in blasphemy cases and if they acquit the accused they themselves face the risk of being labelled blasphemers.

Recently, Junaid Hafeez, a university professor, was sentenced to death for insulting the Prophet Mohammed. The lawyer who first agreed to represent Junaid got murdered. &nbsp; 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 
"Could any judge in such circumstances take the risk of doing justice?" Junaid's family said in a statement. &nbsp;

Condemning the sentence, Pakistan's Human Rights Commission said that blasphemy laws are still "heavily misused" and the judicial process was "ridden by delays and pressures at the level of the lower judiciary."

The blasphemy verdicts in lower courts are generally overturned in the higher courts suggests the flawed rulings in such cases. However, Pakistan's sluggish justice system means the appeal process can stretch for years.&nbsp;

Even after the acquittal, people face the risk of vigilante violence that continues to haunts them. &nbsp;

Blasphemy is seen as a highly inflammatory charge in Pakistan. Even reform suggestions can trigger violence, most notably in Salmaan Taseer's case, the governor of Pakistan's most populous province. Salmaan was dead by his own bodyguard and his supporters still regard him as a martyr and in fact constructed a popular shrine in his memory on the outskirts of Islamabad after he was hanged four years ago.

During his 2018 campaign, Pakistan PM Imran Khan voiced his full support for defending the blasphemy laws for which he faced a lot of criticism.&nbsp;

(With AFP inputs)

Blasphemy, a draconian law, has been used over the decades in Pakistan as a clampdown mostly against minorities, where death sentence has also been sentenced in the past.

Blasphemy, a draconian law, has been used over the decades in Pakistan as a clampdown mostly against minorities, where death sentence has also been sentenced in the past. Asia Bibi, who was acquitted one year ago, battled death sentence for eight years, which became the country's most high-profile case. After Bibi's acquittal, there were mass protests in the country before she moved to Canada. Also read: Pakistan: University professor sentenced to death for blasphemy So let's look at what has changed in the country where hardliners traditionally ruled the roost. Also read: Finally free! Asia Bibi breaks silence on hellish time in Pak prison, life in exile "Before Asia Bibi, dozens of maulanas (religious scholars) were coming to my hearings," said the Christian pastor Adnan Prince, who is accused of desecrating the Koran. "After that, they didn't come anymore." However, the situation is not completely rosy as a former judge said that lower courts are often threatened in blasphemy cases and if they acquit the accused they themselves face the risk of being labelled blasphemers. Recently, Junaid Hafeez, a university professor, was sentenced to death for insulting the Prophet Mohammed. The lawyer who first agreed to represent Junaid got murdered. "Could any judge in such circumstances take the risk of doing justice?" Junaid's family said in a statement. Condemning the sentence, Pakistan's Human Rights Commission said that blasphemy laws are still "heavily misused" and the judicial process was "ridden by delays and pressures at the level of the lower judiciary." The blasphemy verdicts in lower courts are generally overturned in the higher courts suggests the flawed rulings in such cases. However, Pakistan's sluggish justice system means the appeal process can stretch for years. Even after the acquittal, people face the risk of vigilante violence that continues to haunts them. Blasphemy is seen as a highly inflammatory charge in Pakistan. Even reform suggestions can trigger violence, most notably in Salmaan Taseer's case, the governor of Pakistan's most populous province. Salmaan was dead by his own bodyguard and his supporters still regard him as a martyr and in fact constructed a popular shrine in his memory on the outskirts of Islamabad after he was hanged four years ago. During his 2018 campaign, Pakistan PM Imran Khan voiced his full support for defending the blasphemy laws for which he faced a lot of criticism. (With AFP inputs)

How blasphemy still remains Pakistan's notorious law a year after Asia Bibi's acquittal

Rome&#39;s ancient Colosseum was lit in red on Saturday in solidarity with persecuted Christians, particularly Asia Bibi, a woman condemned to death under Pakistan&#39;s blasphemy laws.

Hundreds gathered on a rainy night outside the Roman amphitheatre that is a symbol of the martyrdom of early Christians to hear the husband and daughter of Asia Bibi.

The Catholic woman has been living on death row in Pakistan since 2010 when she was condemned for allegedly making derogatory remarks about Islam after neighbours objected to her drinking water from their glass because she was not Muslim.

Human rights groups such as Amnesty International say the blasphemy law is increasingly exploited by religious extremists as well as ordinary Pakistanis to settle personal scores.

&quot;The aim of the blasphemy laws is crush people who believe differently,&quot; Archbishop Nunzio Galantino, secretary-general of the Italian bishops conference, told the gathering.

The law does not define blasphemy and evidence might not be reproduced in court for fear of committing a fresh offence. There are no penalties for false accusations.

Asia Bibi&#39;s case drew international attention after the murder of two politicians who tried to intervene on her behalf.

At the Rome gathering, her husband Ashiq Masih said his wife was innocent of blasphemy. &quot;This is just hate against Christians, who are considered impure,&quot; he said.

The husband and daughter, who broke down in tears as she addressed the group, were earlier received by Pope Francis, who told her: &quot;I think often of your mother and I pray for her&quot;.

European Parliament President Antonio Tajani, who has been tipped as a possible Italian prime minister after next week&#39;s election, said that persecution of Christians was &quot;a genocide&quot;.

&quot;A message must be sent from this place. It is the duty of Europe to defend these values (of religious liberty) wherever on earth they are trampled on,&quot; Tajani said.

Rebecca Bitrus, a Nigerian Christian woman who was held for two years after she was abducted by Boko Haram Islamist militants, told of how she was repeatedly beaten and raped.

During the event, organised by the Catholic group &quot;Aid to the Church in Need,&quot; there were live link-ups with Aleppo, Syria, and Mosul, Iraq, both of whose minority Christian populations have been hit hard by wars.

Hundreds gathered on a rainy night outside the Roman amphitheater that is a symbol of the martyrdom of early Christians to hear the husband and daughter of Asia Bibi

Rome's ancient Colosseum was lit in red on Saturday in solidarity with persecuted Christians, particularly Asia Bibi, a woman condemned to death under Pakistan's blasphemy laws. Hundreds gathered on a rainy night outside the Roman amphitheatre that is a symbol of the martyrdom of early Christians to hear the husband and daughter of Asia Bibi. The Catholic woman has been living on death row in Pakistan since 2010 when she was condemned for allegedly making derogatory remarks about Islam after neighbours objected to her drinking water from their glass because she was not Muslim. Human rights groups such as Amnesty International say the blasphemy law is increasingly exploited by religious extremists as well as ordinary Pakistanis to settle personal scores. "The aim of the blasphemy laws is crush people who believe differently," Archbishop Nunzio Galantino, secretary-general of the Italian bishops conference, told the gathering. The law does not define blasphemy and evidence might not be reproduced in court for fear of committing a fresh offence. There are no penalties for false accusations. Asia Bibi's case drew international attention after the murder of two politicians who tried to intervene on her behalf. At the Rome gathering, her husband Ashiq Masih said his wife was innocent of blasphemy. "This is just hate against Christians, who are considered impure," he said. The husband and daughter, who broke down in tears as she addressed the group, were earlier received by Pope Francis, who told her: "I think often of your mother and I pray for her". European Parliament President Antonio Tajani, who has been tipped as a possible Italian prime minister after next week's election, said that persecution of Christians was "a genocide". "A message must be sent from this place. It is the duty of Europe to defend these values (of religious liberty) wherever on earth they are trampled on," Tajani said. Rebecca Bitrus, a Nigerian Christian woman who was held for two years after she was abducted by Boko Haram Islamist militants, told of how she was repeatedly beaten and raped. During the event, organised by the Catholic group "Aid to the Church in Need," there were live link-ups with Aleppo, Syria, and Mosul, Iraq, both of whose minority Christian populations have been hit hard by wars.

Rome's Colosseum turned red to protest Pakistan blasphemy law

Senators in Pakistan have called for amending the country&#39;s blasphemy law to prevent its misuse and punish those who make blasphemy accusations against others.

Lawmakers also demanded a crackdown on those taking law into their hands.

This comes after Abdul Wali Khan University students Mashal and Abdullah were targeted by a violent mob on campus premises. Mashal was killed, while Abdullah was injured for allegedly &quot;publishing blasphemous content online&quot;.

Condemning the lynching of Mashal Khan, senators stressed on the need for effective steps to prevent misuse of the blasphemy law.

Speaking about the blatant misuse of the law, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP)&#39;s Farhatullah Babar said a religious scholar had proposed that accusers who levelled false accusations should also suffer the same sentence as provided for a blasphemer.

&#39;The assassination of Mashal Khan should make us think about concrete measures to prevent the misuse of the blasphemy law; we need to revisit this law,&#39; Dawn quoted Babar, as saying.

Responding to Senate Chairman Mian Raza Rabbani question as to how mob and street justice could be stopped, Babar said that an effective legislation would prevent such a mentality.

Asserting that Islam is a religion of peace and tolerance and prohibits any excesses, even against animals, Retired Gen Abdul Qayyum of the PML-N also called for flaws in the blasphemy law to be addressed.

JI chief Siraj-ul-Haq said that no individual or organisation had the right to punish that individual unilaterally even if someone was guilty of a crime.

&#39;This shows an imbalance and lack of tolerance in society,&#39; he said.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Police has opened a hate speech investigation against two clerics in connection with the killing of a university student over allegations of blasphemy.

The clerics are accused of attempting to disrupt the funeral of Mashal Khan, a student of Abdul Wali Khan University in Mardan who was killed by a violent mob on campus premises after a dormitory debate followed accusations of blasphemy.

According to the Dawn, the police is investigating the clerics in Mashal&#39;s hometown of Swabi for attempting to disrupt funeral proceedings and instigate hatred against his family.

&quot;The two clerics [used]... the mosque loudspeaker for hate speech against the slain student and his family and ... created hurdles for the people and another cleric to participate in the funeral,&quot; said a senior Swabi police official.

A local imam had reportedly refused to lead Khan&#39;s funeral prayers last Friday and a technician who was asked to do so in the cleric&#39;s place was confronted by several people afterwards.

A large number of protestors took to the streets on Monday in the Zaida town, to defend Mashal as they chanted slogans &quot;Be Gunah, Be Gunah (innocent), Mashal Khan Be Gunah.&quot; Relatives and friends, political workers and representatives of civil society groups and the general public participated in the march.

It was probably for the first time in the area that a large number of women, with their heads covered, took part in a mourning procession that turned into a public meeting at a square in the town, reports the Dawn.

Mardan police on Sunday claimed to have arrested seven more suspects in relation to the case with the total number of those arrested reaching 20.

All the seven suspects were produced in the court of a magistrate on special duty on Sunday who remanded them in police custody for a day.

Meanwhile, Inspector General Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa on Monday said there was no evidence to suggest that Mashal committed blasphemy.

(ANI)

A student of the Abdul Wali Khan University, Mashal died after being lynched for 'publishing blasphemous content online'

Senators in Pakistan have called for amending the country's blasphemy law to prevent its misuse and punish those who make blasphemy accusations against others. Lawmakers also demanded a crackdown on those taking law into their hands. This comes after Abdul Wali Khan University students Mashal and Abdullah were targeted by a violent mob on campus premises. Mashal was killed, while Abdullah was injured for allegedly "publishing blasphemous content online". Condemning the lynching of Mashal Khan, senators stressed on the need for effective steps to prevent misuse of the blasphemy law. Speaking about the blatant misuse of the law, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP)'s Farhatullah Babar said a religious scholar had proposed that accusers who levelled false accusations should also suffer the same sentence as provided for a blasphemer. 'The assassination of Mashal Khan should make us think about concrete measures to prevent the misuse of the blasphemy law; we need to revisit this law,' Dawn quoted Babar, as saying. Responding to Senate Chairman Mian Raza Rabbani question as to how mob and street justice could be stopped, Babar said that an effective legislation would prevent such a mentality. Asserting that Islam is a religion of peace and tolerance and prohibits any excesses, even against animals, Retired Gen Abdul Qayyum of the PML-N also called for flaws in the blasphemy law to be addressed. JI chief Siraj-ul-Haq said that no individual or organisation had the right to punish that individual unilaterally even if someone was guilty of a crime. 'This shows an imbalance and lack of tolerance in society,' he said. Meanwhile, the Pakistan Police has opened a hate speech investigation against two clerics in connection with the killing of a university student over allegations of blasphemy. The clerics are accused of attempting to disrupt the funeral of Mashal Khan, a student of Abdul Wali Khan University in Mardan who was killed by a violent mob on campus premises after a dormitory debate followed accusations of blasphemy. According to the Dawn, the police is investigating the clerics in Mashal's hometown of Swabi for attempting to disrupt funeral proceedings and instigate hatred against his family. "The two clerics [used]... the mosque loudspeaker for hate speech against the slain student and his family and ... created hurdles for the people and another cleric to participate in the funeral," said a senior Swabi police official. A local imam had reportedly refused to lead Khan's funeral prayers last Friday and a technician who was asked to do so in the cleric's place was confronted by several people afterwards. A large number of protestors took to the streets on Monday in the Zaida town, to defend Mashal as they chanted slogans "Be Gunah, Be Gunah (innocent), Mashal Khan Be Gunah." Relatives and friends, political workers and representatives of civil society groups and the general public participated in the march. It was probably for the first time in the area that a large number of women, with their heads covered, took part in a mourning procession that turned into a public meeting at a square in the town, reports the Dawn. Mardan police on Sunday claimed to have arrested seven more suspects in relation to the case with the total number of those arrested reaching 20. All the seven suspects were produced in the court of a magistrate on special duty on Sunday who remanded them in police custody for a day. Meanwhile, Inspector General Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa on Monday said there was no evidence to suggest that Mashal committed blasphemy. (ANI)

After student's death, Pakistan senators call for amendments to blasphemy law