A violent mob stormed a police station in Pakistan’s Punjab province, grabbed an accused arrested of blasphemy charges, stripped him naked, hanged him and then set him on fire.&nbsp;According to reports, the incident occurred on Saturday afternoon at the&nbsp;Warburton Police Station in Nankana Sahib.

The faith of the person killed is unknown. He was accused of “desecrating the Quran”. Two senior police officers were suspended for failing to prevent the incident.

The videos that went viral on social media purportedly showed a violent mob scaling the large gate&nbsp;of Warburton Police Station&nbsp;and opening it, following which the crowd outside stormed the building.

Punjab Inspector General of Police Usman Anwar is said to have taken note of the videos circulating on social media, and has ordered an investigation into the matter.

The police statement said that IG Anwar suspended Nankana Sahib Circle Deputy Superintendent of Police Nawaz Waraq and Warburton Station House Officer Feroz Bhatti.

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According to Dawn newspaper, the IG has assigned a special investigative officer and asked him to submit the inquiry report immediately.

“No one is allowed to take the law into their hands no matter how influential they are,” the Punjab IG was quoted as saying.

“Strict departmental and legal action will be taken against those responsible for the incident, as well as the perpetrators of negligence and incompetence,” the IG said, according to the newspaper.

<h2>US: Indian-American Nikki Haley poised to enter 2024 Presidential race</h2>

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In Pakistan, a deeply conservative society, blasphemy is considered a serious crime.

The blasphemy laws, which can already mean death for those deemed to have insulted Islam or the Prophet Muhammad, can now also be used to punish anyone convicted of insulting people who were connected to him.

According to the Centre for Research and Security Studies, a Pakistan-based think tank, the Islamic country has reported a total of 1,415 cases of blasphemy since 1947.

According to the think tank report, a total of 18 women and 71 men were extra-judicially killed over blasphemy from 1947 to 2021.&nbsp;But the think tank believes that the actual number of cases might be higher as not all cases are reported.

(With inputs from agencies)

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A violent mob stormed a police station in Pakistan’s Punjab province, grabbed an accused arrested of blasphemy charges, stripped him naked, hanged him and then set him on fire.

A violent mob stormed a police station in Pakistan’s Punjab province, grabbed an accused arrested of blasphemy charges, stripped him naked, hanged him and then set him on fire. According to reports, the incident occurred on Saturday afternoon at the Warburton Police Station in Nankana Sahib. The faith of the person killed is unknown. He was accused of “desecrating the Quran”. Two senior police officers were suspended for failing to prevent the incident. The videos that went viral on social media purportedly showed a violent mob scaling the large gate of Warburton Police Station and opening it, following which the crowd outside stormed the building. Punjab Inspector General of Police Usman Anwar is said to have taken note of the videos circulating on social media, and has ordered an investigation into the matter. The police statement said that IG Anwar suspended Nankana Sahib Circle Deputy Superintendent of Police Nawaz Waraq and Warburton Station House Officer Feroz Bhatti. Violent mob in district Nankana Sahib lynched a blasphemy victim to death. The man was held in a Warburton police station after allegations for doing witchcraft by pasting his ex-wife’s picture on religious papers. pic.twitter.com/OySRDNgTak — Naila Inayat (@nailainayat) February 11, 2023 × According to Dawn newspaper, the IG has assigned a special investigative officer and asked him to submit the inquiry report immediately. “No one is allowed to take the law into their hands no matter how influential they are,” the Punjab IG was quoted as saying. “Strict departmental and legal action will be taken against those responsible for the incident, as well as the perpetrators of negligence and incompetence,” the IG said, according to the newspaper. US: Indian-American Nikki Haley poised to enter 2024 Presidential race In Pakistan, a deeply conservative society, blasphemy is considered a serious crime. The blasphemy laws, which can already mean death for those deemed to have insulted Islam or the Prophet Muhammad, can now also be used to punish anyone convicted of insulting people who were connected to him. According to the Centre for Research and Security Studies, a Pakistan-based think tank, the Islamic country has reported a total of 1,415 cases of blasphemy since 1947. According to the think tank report, a total of 18 women and 71 men were extra-judicially killed over blasphemy from 1947 to 2021. But the think tank believes that the actual number of cases might be higher as not all cases are reported. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Violent mob storms Pakistan police station, sets man accused of blasphemy on fire

India&nbsp;raised the issue of misuse of the blasphemy law in Pakistan against minorities.

According to India, currently at least 80 people in prison in Pakistan for the crime of "blasphemy", with at least half of them facing life sentences or the death penalty. At least 42 cases pertaining to blasphemy were registered across Pakistan in a single month.

Indian diplomat to UN in Geneva, Senthil Kumar said, "Pakistan’s deplorable human rights records and discriminatory treatment of its minorities has been a cause of persistent concern for the international community"

Explaining, "In Pakistan, Blasphemy laws are being used against religious minorities such as Christians, Hindus and Sikhs, to violate their human rights and dignity.".

Misuse of blasphemy laws in Pakistan is something that has been talked about at the international level, especially when it comes to the case of Christian Pakistani women Asia Bibi who later got asylum in Canada.

Senthil Kumar highlighted, "Enforced disappearances, state violence and forced mass displacements, harassment, extrajudicial killings, army operations, torture, kill-and-dumps, torture camps, detention centers, military camps" being a "regular features in Baluchistan".&nbsp;

India cited the example of the disappearance of Rashid Hussain in December 2018, and the killing of journalist Sajid Hussain Baloch after he went missing in March 2020.

He said, "nobody knows the fate of missing 47,000 Baloch and 35,000 Pashtuns till date. Sectarian violence has claimed more than 500 Hazaras in Baluchistan and more than 100,000 Hazaras have fled Pakistan."

He also slammed Islamabad for a similar situation in Pakistan occupied Kashmir saying, "before preaching to others Pakistan must remember that terrorism is the worst form of human rights abuse and a crime against humanity" and "the world doesn’t need lessons on human rights from a country which has been known as nursery and epicentre of Terrorism".

India raised the issue of misuse of the blasphemy law in Pakistan against minorities. According to India, currently at least 80 people in prison in Pakistan for the crime of "blasphemy", with at least half of them facing life sentences or the death penalty.

India raised the issue of misuse of the blasphemy law in Pakistan against minorities. According to India, currently at least 80 people in prison in Pakistan for the crime of "blasphemy", with at least half of them facing life sentences or the death penalty. At least 42 cases pertaining to blasphemy were registered across Pakistan in a single month. Indian diplomat to UN in Geneva, Senthil Kumar said, "Pakistan’s deplorable human rights records and discriminatory treatment of its minorities has been a cause of persistent concern for the international community" Explaining, "In Pakistan, Blasphemy laws are being used against religious minorities such as Christians, Hindus and Sikhs, to violate their human rights and dignity.". Misuse of blasphemy laws in Pakistan is something that has been talked about at the international level, especially when it comes to the case of Christian Pakistani women Asia Bibi who later got asylum in Canada. Senthil Kumar highlighted, "Enforced disappearances, state violence and forced mass displacements, harassment, extrajudicial killings, army operations, torture, kill-and-dumps, torture camps, detention centers, military camps" being a "regular features in Baluchistan". India cited the example of the disappearance of Rashid Hussain in December 2018, and the killing of journalist Sajid Hussain Baloch after he went missing in March 2020. He said, "nobody knows the fate of missing 47,000 Baloch and 35,000 Pashtuns till date. Sectarian violence has claimed more than 500 Hazaras in Baluchistan and more than 100,000 Hazaras have fled Pakistan." He also slammed Islamabad for a similar situation in Pakistan occupied Kashmir saying, "before preaching to others Pakistan must remember that terrorism is the worst form of human rights abuse and a crime against humanity" and "the world doesn’t need lessons on human rights from a country which has been known as nursery and epicentre of Terrorism".

At UN, India raises the issue of misuse of blasphemy laws by Pakistan against minorities

Thousands of people in northwestern Pakistan rallied on Friday in support of the man who allegedly killed a US citizen inside a courtroom in the city of Peshawar. 
&nbsp; 
The demonstrators in Karachi were praising the accused for the killing, demanding his immediate release from jail and saying he did what was expected of the government.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/south-asia/welcome-to-pakistan-a-state-where-murder-in-courtroom-is-celebrated-317118">Welcome to Pakistan: A state where murder in courtroom is celebrated</a>

"We are not in favour of taking the law into our own hands, but he did what the government should have done two years ago," said Mufti Shahabuddin Popalzai, who led the rally, told the news agency the Associated Press.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/us-citizen-accused-of-blasphemy-shot-dead-in-pakistan-courtroom-316959">US citizen accused of blasphemy shot dead in Pakistan courtroom</a>&nbsp;

Tahir Naseem, a US citizen, was gunned down in a courtroom on Thursday during his trial for blasphemy.&nbsp;

He died before he was taken to hospital and the gunman was arrested.&nbsp;

On Thursday too, several people in the social media and politicians lauded the accused of committing the crime.&nbsp;

The US Statement also reacted strongly against the killing and asked Pakistan to reform "often-abused" blasphemy laws.&nbsp;

"We are shocked, saddened, and outraged that American citizen Tahir Naseem was killed yesterday inside a Pakistani courtroom," the State Department said, in a statement, on Thursday.

The statement also said the victim was "lured to Pakistan" from his home in Illinois and was entrapped by the controversial law.&nbsp;

"We urge Pakistan to immediately reform its often abused blasphemy laws and its court system, which allow such abuses to occur, and to ensure that the suspect is prosecuted to the full extent of the law," the statement said.

Naseem was facing a trial after it was alleged that he declared himself Islam's prophet.&nbsp;

The blasphemy law in Pakistan has been criticised a lot by human rights activists and other nations, which even result in a death sentence.

Also, often, the mere allegation of insulting Islam has led to vigilantes and mobs brutally killing the accused.

Thousands of people in northwestern Pakistan rallied on Friday in support of the man who allegedly killed a US citizen inside a courtroom in the city of Peshawar.

Thousands of people in northwestern Pakistan rallied on Friday in support of the man who allegedly killed a US citizen inside a courtroom in the city of Peshawar. The demonstrators in Karachi were praising the accused for the killing, demanding his immediate release from jail and saying he did what was expected of the government. Also read | Welcome to Pakistan: A state where murder in courtroom is celebrated "We are not in favour of taking the law into our own hands, but he did what the government should have done two years ago," said Mufti Shahabuddin Popalzai, who led the rally, told the news agency the Associated Press. Also read | US citizen accused of blasphemy shot dead in Pakistan courtroom Tahir Naseem, a US citizen, was gunned down in a courtroom on Thursday during his trial for blasphemy. He died before he was taken to hospital and the gunman was arrested. On Thursday too, several people in the social media and politicians lauded the accused of committing the crime. The US Statement also reacted strongly against the killing and asked Pakistan to reform "often-abused" blasphemy laws. "We are shocked, saddened, and outraged that American citizen Tahir Naseem was killed yesterday inside a Pakistani courtroom," the State Department said, in a statement, on Thursday. The statement also said the victim was "lured to Pakistan" from his home in Illinois and was entrapped by the controversial law. "We urge Pakistan to immediately reform its often abused blasphemy laws and its court system, which allow such abuses to occur, and to ensure that the suspect is prosecuted to the full extent of the law," the statement said. Naseem was facing a trial after it was alleged that he declared himself Islam's prophet. The blasphemy law in Pakistan has been criticised a lot by human rights activists and other nations, which even result in a death sentence. Also, often, the mere allegation of insulting Islam has led to vigilantes and mobs brutally killing the accused.

Pakistan: Thousands rally for accused in US citizen murder case

Take a look at Pakistan's new youth icon, national hero: Khalid Khan. He is literally being lionised as social media is flooded with the image of Khalid with a lion in the background.&nbsp;

There are virtual rose petals being showered on him and called as 'Aashiq-e-Rasool' (Lover of the Prophet). Even Pakistani leaders are singing praises for this young man.&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;

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The reason being Khalid receiving so much love and affection is because he killed a man, inside a Peshawar courtroom, in front of a judge on Wednesday afternoon.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/us-citizen-accused-of-blasphemy-shot-dead-in-pakistan-courtroom-316959">US citizen accused of blasphemy shot dead in Pakistan courtroom</a>

The man who was murdered is Tahir Ahmad Naseem, a US citizen. Tahir was formerly as Ahmadiyya Muslim, the most persecuted community in Pakistan.

He was booked for blasphemy in 2018 for allegedly claiming to be the ''last prophet of Islam".

Reports suggest he was mentally ill and the law under which he was booked could have given him death sentence anyway.&nbsp;

However, none of this matters in Pakistan.

In Pakistan, an act of blasphemy risks a violent and bloody death at the hands of vigilantes.&nbsp;

Visuals tell us that a man was killed inside a courtroom before his trial ended and Pakistan is celebrating this killing.&nbsp;

These instances speak for themselves what decades of religious polarisation could do.&nbsp;

Many such religious groups in Pakistan have routinely abused blasphemy laws to target the Ahmadiyya community and minorities.&nbsp;

Earlier this month, a Christian man was gunned down in Peshawar because he bought a house in a Muslim neighbourhood.&nbsp;

Another Christian man, a pastor and his wife, who were accused of land grab, were beaten and driven away by their Muslim neighbours in a village in eastern Punjab.&nbsp;

If this looks appalling, then how can one describe Shahbaz Bhatti's killing.

Shahbaz was Pakistan's first federal minister for minorities affairs.

He was the only Christian in the Pakistan cabinet till 2011, who was shot dead by extremists for criticising blasphemy laws.&nbsp;

If a minister faces such violence, forget about the security of a common man.&nbsp;

Let's look at some of the facts.

Since 1987, more than 1,500 people in Pakistan have been accused of blasphemy.&nbsp;

Nearly 50 per cent of these accused belong to the minority communities, despite the fact that minorities make up only three per cent of Pakistan's total population.&nbsp;

A US watchdog on religious freedom estimates that at least 80 individuals remain in Pakistani prisons on blasphemy charges and around half of them face a life sentence or the death penalty.

Many of these cases don't reach their logical conclusion as extremists like Khalid take matters into their own hands and then declared national heroes.&nbsp;

Take a look at Pakistan's new youth icon, national hero: Khalid Khan. He is literally being lionised as social media is flooded with the image of Khalid with a lion in the background.

Take a look at Pakistan's new youth icon, national hero: Khalid Khan. He is literally being lionised as social media is flooded with the image of Khalid with a lion in the background. There are virtual rose petals being showered on him and called as 'Aashiq-e-Rasool' (Lover of the Prophet). Even Pakistani leaders are singing praises for this young man. Watch | The reason being Khalid receiving so much love and affection is because he killed a man, inside a Peshawar courtroom, in front of a judge on Wednesday afternoon. Also read | US citizen accused of blasphemy shot dead in Pakistan courtroom The man who was murdered is Tahir Ahmad Naseem, a US citizen. Tahir was formerly as Ahmadiyya Muslim, the most persecuted community in Pakistan. He was booked for blasphemy in 2018 for allegedly claiming to be the ''last prophet of Islam". Reports suggest he was mentally ill and the law under which he was booked could have given him death sentence anyway. However, none of this matters in Pakistan. In Pakistan, an act of blasphemy risks a violent and bloody death at the hands of vigilantes. Visuals tell us that a man was killed inside a courtroom before his trial ended and Pakistan is celebrating this killing. These instances speak for themselves what decades of religious polarisation could do. Many such religious groups in Pakistan have routinely abused blasphemy laws to target the Ahmadiyya community and minorities. Earlier this month, a Christian man was gunned down in Peshawar because he bought a house in a Muslim neighbourhood. Another Christian man, a pastor and his wife, who were accused of land grab, were beaten and driven away by their Muslim neighbours in a village in eastern Punjab. If this looks appalling, then how can one describe Shahbaz Bhatti's killing. Shahbaz was Pakistan's first federal minister for minorities affairs. He was the only Christian in the Pakistan cabinet till 2011, who was shot dead by extremists for criticising blasphemy laws. If a minister faces such violence, forget about the security of a common man. Let's look at some of the facts. Since 1987, more than 1,500 people in Pakistan have been accused of blasphemy. Nearly 50 per cent of these accused belong to the minority communities, despite the fact that minorities make up only three per cent of Pakistan's total population. A US watchdog on religious freedom estimates that at least 80 individuals remain in Pakistani prisons on blasphemy charges and around half of them face a life sentence or the death penalty. Many of these cases don't reach their logical conclusion as extremists like Khalid take matters into their own hands and then declared national heroes.

Welcome to Pakistan: A state where murder in courtroom is celebrated

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

Asia Bibi, a Christian woman who was recently <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/how-asia-bibi-was-convicted-in-blasphemey-case-a-timeline-174662">acquitted of blasphemy</a>, has left Pakistan. According to government sources, Bibi has left for Canada.

Asia Bibi was in protective custody in Pakistan since her acquittal in October last year. She was on death row since 2010.

Bibi, a farm worker, was condemned in 2010 over allegations that she made derogatory remarks about Islam after neighbours working in the fields with her objected to her drinking water from their glass because she was not Muslim. She has always denied committing blasphemy.

Bibi was charged for Blasphemy over the incident that took place in 2009.

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The popular belief of the region restricts Christians from drinking water from the same utensil as "they are considered unclean".

The conflict between Asia and the neighbours escalated after other villagers joined the fight.

Asia was also beaten by a mob which attacked her in her house. She was later rescued by the police and was arrested after an investigation.

Asia Bibi was the only Christian in the village. Even before the incident, she was repeatedly asked by fellow workers to convert to Islam, she said.

Asia remained in the prison for one year before being formally charged under the law.

Bibi's case has outraged Christians worldwide and reignited a debate about Pakistan's draconian blasphemy law, which critics say is often abused and unfairly targets ethnic minorities.

Many blasphemy cases in Pakistan see Muslims accusing Muslims, and rights activists say charges under the colonial-era legislation are frequently used to settle personal scores.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/asia-bibi-is-free-but-minorities-live-in-fear-in-pakistan-174584">Minorities</a> - particularly Christians - are often caught in the crossfire, while mere calls to reform the laws have also provoked violence.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had earlier said that his country is ready to welcome Asia Bibi, and that talks are on with Pakistan government. Watch the video for more:

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Asia Bibi, a Christian woman who was recently acquitted of blasphemy, has left Pakistan. According to government sources, Bibi has left for Canada. Asia Bibi was in protective custody in Pakistan since her acquittal in October last year.

Asia Bibi, a Christian woman who was recently acquitted of blasphemy, has left Pakistan. According to government sources, Bibi has left for Canada. Asia Bibi was in protective custody in Pakistan since her acquittal in October last year. She was on death row since 2010. Bibi, a farm worker, was condemned in 2010 over allegations that she made derogatory remarks about Islam after neighbours working in the fields with her objected to her drinking water from their glass because she was not Muslim. She has always denied committing blasphemy. Bibi was charged for Blasphemy over the incident that took place in 2009. The popular belief of the region restricts Christians from drinking water from the same utensil as "they are considered unclean". The conflict between Asia and the neighbours escalated after other villagers joined the fight. Asia was also beaten by a mob which attacked her in her house. She was later rescued by the police and was arrested after an investigation. Asia Bibi was the only Christian in the village. Even before the incident, she was repeatedly asked by fellow workers to convert to Islam, she said. Asia remained in the prison for one year before being formally charged under the law. Bibi's case has outraged Christians worldwide and reignited a debate about Pakistan's draconian blasphemy law, which critics say is often abused and unfairly targets ethnic minorities. Many blasphemy cases in Pakistan see Muslims accusing Muslims, and rights activists say charges under the colonial-era legislation are frequently used to settle personal scores. Minorities - particularly Christians - are often caught in the crossfire, while mere calls to reform the laws have also provoked violence. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had earlier said that his country is ready to welcome Asia Bibi, and that talks are on with Pakistan government. Watch the video for more:

Asia Bibi leaves Pakistan, sources say she is headed to Canada

Two headlines this month beg the question US officials have been grappling with for more than a decade: Will the real Pakistan stand up, please?

Pakistan's The News reported that the government had designated Islamabad as a pilot project to regulate Friday prayer sermons in the city's 1,003 mosques, of which only 86 are state-controlled, in a bid to curb hate speech, extremism and demonisation of religions and communities.

The project is modelled on procedures in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt that are primarily intended to exert political control. The Islamabad project is in part designed to counter mounting criticism by the Trump administration, which has suspended funding to Pakistan, as well as growing unease in China over what Pakistani militancy could mean for its massive investment in the country.

It is also intended to support Pakistani efforts to evade blacklisting by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), a 37-member inter-governmental agency that polices adherence to anti-money laundering and funding of political violence measures.

The government has drawn up a list of 44 subjects on which prayer leaders should focus in their sermons. They include women rights, Muslim unity, Islamic principles of trade, cleanliness and health, concepts of an Islamic state, the importance of hard work, tolerance, and honesty, and the notion of the finality of the Prophet Mohammed.

The belief that Mohammed was the last prophet or Khatm-e-Nabuwwat is core to Muslim faith. Yet, it has allowed Sunni Muslim ultra-conservatives and others to whip up popular emotion in pursuit of political objectives, nowhere more so than in Pakistan where a draconian anti-blasphemy law has aided and abetted them.

The military late last year mediated an end to a weeks-long blockade of a main artery leading into Islamabad that disrupted traffic in multiple cities to protest a perceived softening of the government's adherence to Islam in a proposed piece of legislation. The protesters successfully called for the resignation of the justice minister for failing to refer to Prophet Mohammad in a constitutional bill.

The second headline reported that Islamabad High Court judge Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui demanded in a ruling that Parliament "take measures which can completely terminate those who scar (the belief in Khatm-e-Nabuwwat)."

Justice Siddiqui sits on the bench of a courthouse that last year had graffiti in a corridor demanding that blasphemers be beheaded. Siddiqui, who has defined blasphemers as terrorists, was ruling in a case brought before him by some of the protesters who had blockaded traffic that would effectively bar from public service Ahmadis, a sect considered heretic by orthodox Muslims because it views its 19th century founder, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, as a prophet.

Pressured by Saudi Arabia, Pakistan in 1974 excommunicated Ahmadis in a constitutional amendment that enshrined the principle of Khatm-e-Nabuwwat as integral to the Islamic faith. Pakistani President Zia ul-Haq criminalised Ahmadi practices a decade later by barring Ahmadis from "posing as Muslims" or using Islamic titles, greetings, scriptures or calls to prayer.

Siddiqui's ruling appeared to contradict the government's effort to get a grip on expressions of Sunni Muslim supremacism that amount to hate speech and discrimination of the other in a country in which extremism has been fuelled by intolerant, anti-pluralistic views.

The ruling, despite paying lip service to constitutional guarantees of "complete religious freedom, including all the basic rights of the minorities (non-Muslims)" and the state's obligation to "protect their life, wealth, property, dignity and protect their assets as citizens of Pakistan," spotlights contradictions in the constitution.

On one hand, the constitution recognises the principle of Khatm-e-Nabuwwat. On the other, Article 20 enshrines the notion of freedom of religion while Article 27 bans discrimination in recruitment for public office.

Without explicitly identifying Ahmadis, Siddiqui said it was "alarming" that "one of the minorities" was "often mistaken for being Muslims" due to their names and general attire. He warned that this "can lead them to gain access to dignified and sensitive posts, along with benefits."

Human rights activists and lawyers have called for the ruling to be challenged in the Supreme Court. "This is clear hate speech. What is the judge asking them to be terminated from? Their jobs? Doesn’t that take away their basic right to life and dignity?" said lawyer and human rights activist Jibran Nasir.

The plaintiffs in Siddiqui's case were supporters of Tehreek Labbaik Pakistan (TPL), a political front for Tehreek Labbaik Ya Rasool Allah (TLR), which glorifies Mumtaz Qadri, who was executed in 2016 for killing Punjab governor Salman Taseer because of his opposition to Pakistan's blasphemy law.

Tens of thousands attended Qadri's funeral and his supporters have built a well-frequented shrine to honour him in his home town. Lawyers associated with TPL have instigated multiple blasphemy cases in Pakistani courts.

The Lahore-based Centre for Social Justice estimated that at least 1,472 people have been charged with blasphemy 1987 and 2016. Of the 730 Muslims charged, 501 were Ahmadis.

Activists and scholars argue that a rollback of the country's blasphemy law which applies the death sentence to those convicted is a requirement if Pakistan is serious about combating extremism. A study by political scientist Nilay Saiya of 51 Muslim majority countries concluded that those that enforced ant-blasphemy laws were more susceptible to political violence.

"Both the concept of blasphemy and the prescription of any sort of punishment for its occurrence stand contrary to the Qu'ran... The modern invocation of religious defamation laws stems from political leaders in Muslim-majority states... who have exploited such laws as a crafty way to use religion for political purposes including inflaming religious sensibilities, silencing criticism of the regime, generating patriotism, fostering national cohesion, co-opting Islamic supporters, and undercutting detractors," Saiya said.

Saiya argued that blasphemy laws encourage militants to attack with impunity individuals, homes, places of worship, and businesses of those believed to be blasphemers in the knowledge that the state will turn a blind eye to their actions.

"Violent non-state actors thus feel empowered to commit acts of terrorism with little or no fear of governmental reprisal because blasphemy laws, in effect, lend the authority of the state to religious figures and reinforce extreme views. Rather than control the forces of extremism, blasphemy laws appease and encourage them. The result, expectedly, is that states that attempt to curry favour with radicals embolden them to take matters into their own hands eventually such countries fall prey to violence carried out by those same radicals," Saiya said.

"The vagueness of the (Pakistani) language concerning blasphemy allowed radicals to interpret the code in very loose ways and open-endedly persecute those believed to be guilty of defiling, in any way, 'the sacred name of the Holy Prophet Muhammad'... Pakistan's blasphemy law thus opened the floodgate for extremism and terrorism which the government was unable to subsequently control," Saiya added.

Given Saiya's analysis, both headlines represent Pakistan. The problem, however, is that the Pakistan that wants to reign in supremacism, hate speech and extremism has little chance of succeeding with out far-reaching political and legal change that would uproot the vested interests of the Pakistan that sees religious and political militancy as a useful tool.

That may be a step too far for those interests even if they recognise a need to be seen to be advocating change with band-aid solutions like trying to control Friday prayer sermons.

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the authors and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

The Pakistan that wants to reign in supremacism, hate speech and extremism has little chance of succeeding with out far-reaching political and legal change.

Two headlines this month beg the question US officials have been grappling with for more than a decade: Will the real Pakistan stand up, please? Pakistan's The News reported that the government had designated Islamabad as a pilot project to regulate Friday prayer sermons in the city's 1,003 mosques, of which only 86 are state-controlled, in a bid to curb hate speech, extremism and demonisation of religions and communities. The project is modelled on procedures in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt that are primarily intended to exert political control. The Islamabad project is in part designed to counter mounting criticism by the Trump administration, which has suspended funding to Pakistan, as well as growing unease in China over what Pakistani militancy could mean for its massive investment in the country. It is also intended to support Pakistani efforts to evade blacklisting by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), a 37-member inter-governmental agency that polices adherence to anti-money laundering and funding of political violence measures. The government has drawn up a list of 44 subjects on which prayer leaders should focus in their sermons. They include women rights, Muslim unity, Islamic principles of trade, cleanliness and health, concepts of an Islamic state, the importance of hard work, tolerance, and honesty, and the notion of the finality of the Prophet Mohammed. The belief that Mohammed was the last prophet or Khatm-e-Nabuwwat is core to Muslim faith. Yet, it has allowed Sunni Muslim ultra-conservatives and others to whip up popular emotion in pursuit of political objectives, nowhere more so than in Pakistan where a draconian anti-blasphemy law has aided and abetted them. The military late last year mediated an end to a weeks-long blockade of a main artery leading into Islamabad that disrupted traffic in multiple cities to protest a perceived softening of the government's adherence to Islam in a proposed piece of legislation. The protesters successfully called for the resignation of the justice minister for failing to refer to Prophet Mohammad in a constitutional bill. The second headline reported that Islamabad High Court judge Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui demanded in a ruling that Parliament "take measures which can completely terminate those who scar (the belief in Khatm-e-Nabuwwat)." Justice Siddiqui sits on the bench of a courthouse that last year had graffiti in a corridor demanding that blasphemers be beheaded. Siddiqui, who has defined blasphemers as terrorists, was ruling in a case brought before him by some of the protesters who had blockaded traffic that would effectively bar from public service Ahmadis, a sect considered heretic by orthodox Muslims because it views its 19th century founder, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, as a prophet. Pressured by Saudi Arabia, Pakistan in 1974 excommunicated Ahmadis in a constitutional amendment that enshrined the principle of Khatm-e-Nabuwwat as integral to the Islamic faith. Pakistani President Zia ul-Haq criminalised Ahmadi practices a decade later by barring Ahmadis from "posing as Muslims" or using Islamic titles, greetings, scriptures or calls to prayer. Siddiqui's ruling appeared to contradict the government's effort to get a grip on expressions of Sunni Muslim supremacism that amount to hate speech and discrimination of the other in a country in which extremism has been fuelled by intolerant, anti-pluralistic views. The ruling, despite paying lip service to constitutional guarantees of "complete religious freedom, including all the basic rights of the minorities (non-Muslims)" and the state's obligation to "protect their life, wealth, property, dignity and protect their assets as citizens of Pakistan," spotlights contradictions in the constitution. On one hand, the constitution recognises the principle of Khatm-e-Nabuwwat. On the other, Article 20 enshrines the notion of freedom of religion while Article 27 bans discrimination in recruitment for public office. Without explicitly identifying Ahmadis, Siddiqui said it was "alarming" that "one of the minorities" was "often mistaken for being Muslims" due to their names and general attire. He warned that this "can lead them to gain access to dignified and sensitive posts, along with benefits." Human rights activists and lawyers have called for the ruling to be challenged in the Supreme Court. "This is clear hate speech. What is the judge asking them to be terminated from? Their jobs? Doesn’t that take away their basic right to life and dignity?" said lawyer and human rights activist Jibran Nasir. The plaintiffs in Siddiqui's case were supporters of Tehreek Labbaik Pakistan (TPL), a political front for Tehreek Labbaik Ya Rasool Allah (TLR), which glorifies Mumtaz Qadri, who was executed in 2016 for killing Punjab governor Salman Taseer because of his opposition to Pakistan's blasphemy law. Tens of thousands attended Qadri's funeral and his supporters have built a well-frequented shrine to honour him in his home town. Lawyers associated with TPL have instigated multiple blasphemy cases in Pakistani courts. The Lahore-based Centre for Social Justice estimated that at least 1,472 people have been charged with blasphemy 1987 and 2016. Of the 730 Muslims charged, 501 were Ahmadis. Activists and scholars argue that a rollback of the country's blasphemy law which applies the death sentence to those convicted is a requirement if Pakistan is serious about combating extremism. A study by political scientist Nilay Saiya of 51 Muslim majority countries concluded that those that enforced ant-blasphemy laws were more susceptible to political violence. "Both the concept of blasphemy and the prescription of any sort of punishment for its occurrence stand contrary to the Qu'ran... The modern invocation of religious defamation laws stems from political leaders in Muslim-majority states... who have exploited such laws as a crafty way to use religion for political purposes including inflaming religious sensibilities, silencing criticism of the regime, generating patriotism, fostering national cohesion, co-opting Islamic supporters, and undercutting detractors," Saiya said. Saiya argued that blasphemy laws encourage militants to attack with impunity individuals, homes, places of worship, and businesses of those believed to be blasphemers in the knowledge that the state will turn a blind eye to their actions. "Violent non-state actors thus feel empowered to commit acts of terrorism with little or no fear of governmental reprisal because blasphemy laws, in effect, lend the authority of the state to religious figures and reinforce extreme views. Rather than control the forces of extremism, blasphemy laws appease and encourage them. The result, expectedly, is that states that attempt to curry favour with radicals embolden them to take matters into their own hands eventually such countries fall prey to violence carried out by those same radicals," Saiya said. "The vagueness of the (Pakistani) language concerning blasphemy allowed radicals to interpret the code in very loose ways and open-endedly persecute those believed to be guilty of defiling, in any way, 'the sacred name of the Holy Prophet Muhammad'... Pakistan's blasphemy law thus opened the floodgate for extremism and terrorism which the government was unable to subsequently control," Saiya added. Given Saiya's analysis, both headlines represent Pakistan. The problem, however, is that the Pakistan that wants to reign in supremacism, hate speech and extremism has little chance of succeeding with out far-reaching political and legal change that would uproot the vested interests of the Pakistan that sees religious and political militancy as a useful tool. That may be a step too far for those interests even if they recognise a need to be seen to be advocating change with band-aid solutions like trying to control Friday prayer sermons. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the authors and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: Will the real Pakistan stand up, please?

Religious freedom is under attack in Pakistan, US secretary of state Rex Tillerson said in a speech while releasing the 2016 International Religious Freedom Report.&nbsp;

&quot;Religious freedom is under attack in Pakistan, where more than two dozen are on death row or serving a life imprisonment for blasphemy,&quot; Tillerson said.

The report said that religious minorities are concerned about the &ldquo;inadequate&rdquo; action on part of the government to address &ldquo;coerced conversions&rdquo; to Islam.&nbsp;

&quot;Religious minorities said they remained concerned that government action to address coerced conversions of religious minorities to Islam was inadequate,&quot; the report, first under the Trump administration, said.

The report added that religious minority leaders continue to say that the government has failed to take proper action to protect minorities from bonded labour in the brick-making and agricultural sectors, a practice which is illegal and in which the victims were disproportionately Christians and Hindus.

The report said that according to Hindu and Sikh leaders, women from their communities face difficulties in obtaining inheritances, accessing health services, voting, obtaining a passport and buying or selling property because of the legal uncertainty surrounding the process of registering marriages for their communities.&nbsp;

The report also said that the government marginalises Ahmadiyya Muslims.

&quot;It is my hope that the new prime minister (Shahid Khaqan Abbasi) and his government will promote interfaith harmony and protect the rights of religious minorities,&quot; Tillerson said after releasing the report.&nbsp;

 
&nbsp;

Religious minorities are concerned about the 'inadequate' action on part of the government to address 'coerced conversions' to Islam, the 2016 International Religious Freedom Report said

Religious freedom is under attack in Pakistan, US secretary of state Rex Tillerson said in a speech while releasing the 2016 International Religious Freedom Report. "Religious freedom is under attack in Pakistan, where more than two dozen are on death row or serving a life imprisonment for blasphemy," Tillerson said. The report said that religious minorities are concerned about the “inadequate” action on part of the government to address “coerced conversions” to Islam. "Religious minorities said they remained concerned that government action to address coerced conversions of religious minorities to Islam was inadequate," the report, first under the Trump administration, said. The report added that religious minority leaders continue to say that the government has failed to take proper action to protect minorities from bonded labour in the brick-making and agricultural sectors, a practice which is illegal and in which the victims were disproportionately Christians and Hindus. The report said that according to Hindu and Sikh leaders, women from their communities face difficulties in obtaining inheritances, accessing health services, voting, obtaining a passport and buying or selling property because of the legal uncertainty surrounding the process of registering marriages for their communities. The report also said that the government marginalises Ahmadiyya Muslims. "It is my hope that the new prime minister (Shahid Khaqan Abbasi) and his government will promote interfaith harmony and protect the rights of religious minorities," Tillerson said after releasing the report.

Religious freedom under threat in Pakistan: US

An outspoken Pakistani student killed by a lynch mob was falsely accused of blasphemy, according to an official report that added his murder was organised by faculty members and rival students.

Mashal Khan, 23, was stripped, beaten and shot before being thrown from the second floor of his hostel at the Abdul Wali Khan University in northwest Mardan in April.&nbsp;

The killing led to a national outcry after a video of it went viral.

The country&#39;s top court ordered the formation of a joint investigation team comprising police and intelligence agencies, which is set to submit its findings this week.&nbsp;

&quot;No direct or indirect evidence supporting blasphemy allegations against Mashal Khan (or his friends) Abdullah and Zubair was received,&quot; the 308-page report, a copy of which was seen by AFP, said.

It added the killing was instigated by members of Khan&#39;s own secular Pakhtun Students Federation, who felt threatened by his growing prominence as a critic of rising fees and alleged corruption at the university, as well as the institution&#39;s staff.

Mashal&#39;s father, Muhammad Iqbal, told reporters on Monday that the findings had vindicated his son.

&quot;This proves my son was not a blasphemer,&quot; he said, calling for the suspects to be tried by a military court.

Blasphemy is a hugely sensitive charge in conservative Muslim Pakistan, and can carry the death penalty. Even unproven allegations can cause mob lynchings and violence.

Last month a 10-year old boy was killed and five others were wounded when a mob attacked a police station in an attempt to lynch a Hindu man charged with blasphemy for allegedly posting an incendiary image on social media.

Weeks earlier a mob attacked a mentally ill man claiming to be a prophet at his local mosque. He was later saved by police.

At least 65 people have been murdered by vigilantes over blasphemy allegations since 1990.

(AFP)

&nbsp;

23-year-old Mashal Khan was stripped, beaten and shot before being thrown from the second floor of his hostel

An outspoken Pakistani student killed by a lynch mob was falsely accused of blasphemy, according to an official report that added his murder was organised by faculty members and rival students. Mashal Khan, 23, was stripped, beaten and shot before being thrown from the second floor of his hostel at the Abdul Wali Khan University in northwest Mardan in April. The killing led to a national outcry after a video of it went viral. The country's top court ordered the formation of a joint investigation team comprising police and intelligence agencies, which is set to submit its findings this week. "No direct or indirect evidence supporting blasphemy allegations against Mashal Khan (or his friends) Abdullah and Zubair was received," the 308-page report, a copy of which was seen by AFP, said. It added the killing was instigated by members of Khan's own secular Pakhtun Students Federation, who felt threatened by his growing prominence as a critic of rising fees and alleged corruption at the university, as well as the institution's staff. Mashal's father, Muhammad Iqbal, told reporters on Monday that the findings had vindicated his son. "This proves my son was not a blasphemer," he said, calling for the suspects to be tried by a military court. Blasphemy is a hugely sensitive charge in conservative Muslim Pakistan, and can carry the death penalty. Even unproven allegations can cause mob lynchings and violence. Last month a 10-year old boy was killed and five others were wounded when a mob attacked a police station in an attempt to lynch a Hindu man charged with blasphemy for allegedly posting an incendiary image on social media. Weeks earlier a mob attacked a mentally ill man claiming to be a prophet at his local mosque. He was later saved by police. At least 65 people have been murdered by vigilantes over blasphemy allegations since 1990. (AFP)

Lynched Pakistani student did not commit blasphemy: Police

Millions of Pakistanis have been receiving text messages from the government warning them against sharing &quot;blasphemous&quot; content online, a move rights activists said would encourage more vigilante attacks.

It comes amid a surge in mob violence linked to accusations of insulting Islam including three attacks within the past month.

&quot;Uploading &amp; sharing of blasphemous content on Internet is a punishable offense under the law. Such content should be reported on info@pta.gov.pk for legal action,&quot; read the SMS sent by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to all mobile phone subscribers.

A similar note was posted on the agency&#39;s website in Urdu. A PTA spokesman said the agency was acting on a court order.

Blasphemy is a hugely sensitive issue in conservative Muslim Pakistan, with unproven allegations leading to dozens of mob attacks or murders since 1990.

The law was originally inherited from Pakistan&#39;s former colonial masters Britain, but strengthened by former dictator Zia-ul-Haq in 1986 to include a provision for capital punishment in cases of insulting the Prophet Muhammad.

Activists said the initiative would likely encourage lynchings, such as the killing of a 23-year-old student known for his liberal views at the hands of hundreds of fellow students last month.

&quot;This mass messaging will only further fuel hatred among different sects and segments of the society. It is a very very bad move,&quot; digital rights activist Shahzad Ahmad told AFP.

&quot;PTA&#39;s mass texting on &#39;blasphemy&#39; smacks of insincerity &amp; political exploitation of religion; it will embolden public to greater violence!,&quot; tweeted popular television anchor Moeed Pirzada.

Last week a 10-year old boy was killed and five others were wounded when a mob attacked a police station in an attempt to lynch a Hindu man charged with blasphemy for allegedly posting an incendiary image on social media.

Weeks earlier a mob attacked a mentally ill man claiming to be a prophet at his local mosque. He was later saved by police.

The issue of blasphemy came to the fore in January when five secular activists known for their outspoken views against religious extremism and the powerful military were disappeared, presumed abducted by state agencies according to opposition parties and international rights groups.

Four of them were later returned to their families weeks later, but not before they were tarnished by a virulent campaign to paint them as enemies of Islam deserving execution.

One of them later told AFP they had been held and tortured by the shadowy Inter Services Intelligence agency which had conceived the blasphemy campaign in order to silence critical voices.

The agency denied involvement.

(AFP)

Blasphemy is a hugely sensitive issue in conservative Muslim Pakistan, with unproven allegations leading to dozens of mob attacks or murders since 1990.

Millions of Pakistanis have been receiving text messages from the government warning them against sharing "blasphemous" content online, a move rights activists said would encourage more vigilante attacks. It comes amid a surge in mob violence linked to accusations of insulting Islam including three attacks within the past month. "Uploading & sharing of blasphemous content on Internet is a punishable offense under the law. Such content should be reported on info@pta.gov.pk for legal action," read the SMS sent by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to all mobile phone subscribers. A similar note was posted on the agency's website in Urdu. A PTA spokesman said the agency was acting on a court order. Blasphemy is a hugely sensitive issue in conservative Muslim Pakistan, with unproven allegations leading to dozens of mob attacks or murders since 1990. The law was originally inherited from Pakistan's former colonial masters Britain, but strengthened by former dictator Zia-ul-Haq in 1986 to include a provision for capital punishment in cases of insulting the Prophet Muhammad. Activists said the initiative would likely encourage lynchings, such as the killing of a 23-year-old student known for his liberal views at the hands of hundreds of fellow students last month. "This mass messaging will only further fuel hatred among different sects and segments of the society. It is a very very bad move," digital rights activist Shahzad Ahmad told AFP. "PTA's mass texting on 'blasphemy' smacks of insincerity & political exploitation of religion; it will embolden public to greater violence!," tweeted popular television anchor Moeed Pirzada. Last week a 10-year old boy was killed and five others were wounded when a mob attacked a police station in an attempt to lynch a Hindu man charged with blasphemy for allegedly posting an incendiary image on social media. Weeks earlier a mob attacked a mentally ill man claiming to be a prophet at his local mosque. He was later saved by police. The issue of blasphemy came to the fore in January when five secular activists known for their outspoken views against religious extremism and the powerful military were disappeared, presumed abducted by state agencies according to opposition parties and international rights groups. Four of them were later returned to their families weeks later, but not before they were tarnished by a virulent campaign to paint them as enemies of Islam deserving execution. One of them later told AFP they had been held and tortured by the shadowy Inter Services Intelligence agency which had conceived the blasphemy campaign in order to silence critical voices. The agency denied involvement. (AFP)

Millions receive blasphemy warning texts in Pakistan

Two days after a Pakistani journalism student was lynched to death on a university campus for posting supposedly&nbsp;blasphemous content on social media, court officials said Saturday that eight fellow students were charged with murder and terrorism.

Police have arrested 45 people in connection with Mashal Khan&#39;s murder and are on the lookout for more students involved in the crime, Pakistani newspaper Dawn reported.

&quot;Eight students were presented before an anti-terrorism court in Mardan over murder and challenging the writ of the state,&quot; public prosecutor Rafiullah Khan told AFP.

Mashal Khan -- who was studying at&nbsp;Abdul Wali Khan University -- was kicked, stripped and shot to death by a large mob&nbsp;in the conservative northwestern town of Mardan on Thursday.

Footage that was recovered showed several university students -- some of them allegedly student body leaders -- kicking and beating Khan&#39;s lifeless body with wooden planks, Pakistani media reported.

Mardan&#39;s Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police Mohammad Alam Shinwari said the 23-year-old victim died of a fatal gunshot.

The police official told Dawn that Khan was brutally murdered for &quot;promoting the Ahmadi faith on Facebook&quot;.

Ahmadi Muslims have faced persecution since the movement began in the late 19th century. Sunni Muslims regard them as heretics.

The footage found at the crime scene also showed how people were forcing him to recite verses of Holy Quran. The video also showed Khan insisting that he was not an Ahmadi and did not promote it on Facebook.

Students had previously complained to university authorities about Khan&#39;s alleged secular and liberal views and Khan had been in a heated debate during a class the day he was killed.

Blasphemy is a hugely sensitive charge in conservative Muslim Pakistan, and can carry the death penalty. Even unproven allegations can cause mob lynchings and violence.

At least 65 people have been murdered by vigilantes over blasphemy allegations since 1990.

The independent Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has urged that all those involved in the lynching be brought to justice.&nbsp;

At his funeral on Friday, Khan&#39;s father said he hoped his son&#39;s murder would &quot;evoke realisation among people that killing an innocent is a sin&quot;.

(WION with inputs from AFP)

Two days back, a journalism student was assaulted, stripped and shot by his peers for allegedly posting blasphemous content on Facebook

Two days after a Pakistani journalism student was lynched to death on a university campus for posting supposedly blasphemous content on social media, court officials said Saturday that eight fellow students were charged with murder and terrorism. Police have arrested 45 people in connection with Mashal Khan's murder and are on the lookout for more students involved in the crime, Pakistani newspaper Dawn reported. "Eight students were presented before an anti-terrorism court in Mardan over murder and challenging the writ of the state," public prosecutor Rafiullah Khan told AFP. Mashal Khan -- who was studying at Abdul Wali Khan University -- was kicked, stripped and shot to death by a large mob in the conservative northwestern town of Mardan on Thursday. Footage that was recovered showed several university students -- some of them allegedly student body leaders -- kicking and beating Khan's lifeless body with wooden planks, Pakistani media reported. Mardan's Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police Mohammad Alam Shinwari said the 23-year-old victim died of a fatal gunshot. The police official told Dawn that Khan was brutally murdered for "promoting the Ahmadi faith on Facebook". Ahmadi Muslims have faced persecution since the movement began in the late 19th century. Sunni Muslims regard them as heretics. The footage found at the crime scene also showed how people were forcing him to recite verses of Holy Quran. The video also showed Khan insisting that he was not an Ahmadi and did not promote it on Facebook. Students had previously complained to university authorities about Khan's alleged secular and liberal views and Khan had been in a heated debate during a class the day he was killed. Blasphemy is a hugely sensitive charge in conservative Muslim Pakistan, and can carry the death penalty. Even unproven allegations can cause mob lynchings and violence. At least 65 people have been murdered by vigilantes over blasphemy allegations since 1990. The independent Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has urged that all those involved in the lynching be brought to justice. At his funeral on Friday, Khan's father said he hoped his son's murder would "evoke realisation among people that killing an innocent is a sin". (WION with inputs from AFP)

Eight charged with murder in Pakistan university student's lynching case

Facebook has assured Pakistan that concerns about blasphemous content on the social media site will be addressed and a company delegation will visit this week to discuss the issue with the government, the interior minister said on Tuesday.

Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif earlier this month ordered that blasphemous content on social media be removed or blocked and that anyone posting such material be punished, and the government requested a meeting with Facebook.

Blasphemy is a criminal offence in the strictly Islamic country and can carry the death penalty.

Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, quoting from what he said was a letter from Facebook&#39;s vice president received a day earlier, told reporters: &quot;I wanted to reiterate that Facebook takes the concerns raised by the Pakistani government very seriously. We have also committed our representative to meet with you and senior officials of your government.&quot;&nbsp;

Khan described this message as a &quot;very big improvement&quot; from Facebook as, he said, the US&nbsp;social media giant generally had not responded to such complaints in the past.

He said Facebook through Pakistan&#39;s ambassador in the United States has told him that over the past few months it had blocked 62 blasphemous webpages, and 45 in the past several days alone.

&quot;We see it very positively that at the highest level Facebook has responded and takes this issue seriously.&quot;

He said Pakistan&#39;s Washington ambassador had spoken to the FBI and Justice Department to underline Islambad&#39;s concerns and both agencies had been receptive.&nbsp;

There was no immediate comment from Facebook.

Last week, Khan warned he would close social media sites that fail to prevent online blasphemy, but gave no details.

Facebook data indicate the social media app has about 25-30 million active users in Pakistan even though Internet penetration remains poor in the South Asian nation. Facebook&#39;s Instagram unit and rival Twitter are also popular.

The ruling PML-N party&#39;s tough talk against blasphemy will appeal to its conservative voter base ahead of elections likely to take place next year. 
At least 65 people, including lawyers, defendants and judges, have been murdered by Islamist militants over blasphemy allegations in Pakistan since 1990, according to think-tank figures and local media.

(Reuters)

A delegation from Facebook will visit Pakistan this week to discuss the issue with the government

Facebook has assured Pakistan that concerns about blasphemous content on the social media site will be addressed and a company delegation will visit this week to discuss the issue with the government, the interior minister said on Tuesday. Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif earlier this month ordered that blasphemous content on social media be removed or blocked and that anyone posting such material be punished, and the government requested a meeting with Facebook. Blasphemy is a criminal offence in the strictly Islamic country and can carry the death penalty. Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, quoting from what he said was a letter from Facebook's vice president received a day earlier, told reporters: "I wanted to reiterate that Facebook takes the concerns raised by the Pakistani government very seriously. We have also committed our representative to meet with you and senior officials of your government." Khan described this message as a "very big improvement" from Facebook as, he said, the US social media giant generally had not responded to such complaints in the past. He said Facebook through Pakistan's ambassador in the United States has told him that over the past few months it had blocked 62 blasphemous webpages, and 45 in the past several days alone. "We see it very positively that at the highest level Facebook has responded and takes this issue seriously." He said Pakistan's Washington ambassador had spoken to the FBI and Justice Department to underline Islambad's concerns and both agencies had been receptive. There was no immediate comment from Facebook. Last week, Khan warned he would close social media sites that fail to prevent online blasphemy, but gave no details. Facebook data indicate the social media app has about 25-30 million active users in Pakistan even though Internet penetration remains poor in the South Asian nation. Facebook's Instagram unit and rival Twitter are also popular. The ruling PML-N party's tough talk against blasphemy will appeal to its conservative voter base ahead of elections likely to take place next year. At least 65 people, including lawyers, defendants and judges, have been murdered by Islamist militants over blasphemy allegations in Pakistan since 1990, according to think-tank figures and local media. (Reuters)

Facebook vows  to tackle concerns over blasphemous content: Pakistan

A Pakistani court has ordered the government to open an investigation into online &quot;blasphemy&quot;, threatening to ban social media networks if they failed to censor content deemed insulting to Islam, lawyers said on Thursday, according to&nbsp;an AFP report.

Judge Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui of the Islamabad High Court asked the government to form an investigative committee to report back next Monday on the issue, saying he could order social media sites to be blocked if offending content remained online.

&quot;The judge ordered the government to make a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) with only Muslim officials to look into the blasphemy issue,&quot; said advocate Tariq Asad, who represents the hardline Red Mosque&nbsp;which brought the case to court.

This comes after Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said Tuesday that &quot;blasphemous&quot; content on social media would be removed or blocked, and that whoever posted it would be &quot;strictly punished&quot;, Reuters reports. This report&nbsp;characterises this stance as something positioned&nbsp;to appeal to his conservative base before next year&#39;s election.

The issue of blasphemy came to the fore in January when five secular activists known for their outspoken views against religious extremism and the powerful military were disappeared, presumed abducted by state agencies according to opposition parties and international rights groups. Four of them were later returned to their families weeks later, but not before they were tarnished by a virulent campaign to paint them enemies of Islam deserving execution.

The <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/mar/17/pakistan-asks-facebook-twitter-help-identify-blasphemers" target="_blank">Guardian </a>reports today that Pakistan has asked the popular social media sites Facebook and Twitter to help identify Pakistanis suspected of blaspheming, so it can prosecute or bring forward their extradition. The report says that Pakistan&#39;s interior minister, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, said an official in the country&#39;s Washington embassy came to the two companies with this aim. Minister Khan said that the country&#39;s authorities had so far singled out 11 individuals for questioning about suspected blasphemy, according to the report.

Rights groups say the label of blasphemer is liberally applied by religious conservatives in order to silence criticism of extremism.

Under Pakistan&#39;s blasphemy laws, anyone found guilty of insulting Islam can be sentenced to death.

Past incidents

AFP contextualizes the current blasphemy issue by giving some brief history:

At least 65 people including lawyers, judges and activists have been murdered by vigilantes over&nbsp;blasphemy allegations since 1990, according to recent think tank report.

Pakistan previously banned Facebook for hosting allegedly blasphemous content for two weeks in 2010 while YouTube was unavailable from 2012 to 2016 over an amateur film about the Prophet Muhammad that led to global riots.

But Islamabad later came to agreements with major internet firms to block within Pakistan material that violated its laws, generally once the companies had performed their own cross-checks.

Yasser Latif Hamdani, a lawyer who worked to get YouTube unblocked, said previous web censorship had also originated with court orders and the judge could succeed in implementing a fresh set of bans.

&quot;In this case you would have to apply to the Supreme Court to overrule it. Would they? He&#39;s going to couch it in religious language...It could create a lot of problems if he does that,&quot; he said.

(WION with inputs from agencies)

Also, a report today said Pakistan asked Facebook and Twitter to help identify nationals, even those abroad, suspected of insulting Islam

A Pakistani court has ordered the government to open an investigation into online "blasphemy", threatening to ban social media networks if they failed to censor content deemed insulting to Islam, lawyers said on Thursday, according to an AFP report. Judge Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui of the Islamabad High Court asked the government to form an investigative committee to report back next Monday on the issue, saying he could order social media sites to be blocked if offending content remained online. "The judge ordered the government to make a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) with only Muslim officials to look into the blasphemy issue," said advocate Tariq Asad, who represents the hardline Red Mosque which brought the case to court. This comes after Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said Tuesday that "blasphemous" content on social media would be removed or blocked, and that whoever posted it would be "strictly punished", Reuters reports. This report characterises this stance as something positioned to appeal to his conservative base before next year's election. The issue of blasphemy came to the fore in January when five secular activists known for their outspoken views against religious extremism and the powerful military were disappeared, presumed abducted by state agencies according to opposition parties and international rights groups. Four of them were later returned to their families weeks later, but not before they were tarnished by a virulent campaign to paint them enemies of Islam deserving execution. The Guardian reports today that Pakistan has asked the popular social media sites Facebook and Twitter to help identify Pakistanis suspected of blaspheming, so it can prosecute or bring forward their extradition. The report says that Pakistan's interior minister, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, said an official in the country's Washington embassy came to the two companies with this aim. Minister Khan said that the country's authorities had so far singled out 11 individuals for questioning about suspected blasphemy, according to the report. Rights groups say the label of blasphemer is liberally applied by religious conservatives in order to silence criticism of extremism. Under Pakistan's blasphemy laws, anyone found guilty of insulting Islam can be sentenced to death. Past incidents AFP contextualizes the current blasphemy issue by giving some brief history: At least 65 people including lawyers, judges and activists have been murdered by vigilantes over blasphemy allegations since 1990, according to recent think tank report. Pakistan previously banned Facebook for hosting allegedly blasphemous content for two weeks in 2010 while YouTube was unavailable from 2012 to 2016 over an amateur film about the Prophet Muhammad that led to global riots. But Islamabad later came to agreements with major internet firms to block within Pakistan material that violated its laws, generally once the companies had performed their own cross-checks. Yasser Latif Hamdani, a lawyer who worked to get YouTube unblocked, said previous web censorship had also originated with court orders and the judge could succeed in implementing a fresh set of bans. "In this case you would have to apply to the Supreme Court to overrule it. Would they? He's going to couch it in religious language...It could create a lot of problems if he does that," he said. (WION with inputs from agencies)

Pakistan court orders government to investigate social media sites that don't censor 'blasphemy', threatens to ban them