|
Key bill seeking strict punishments for false blasphemy accusations withdrawn from Senate on PTI request
[DAWN] The Senate Secretariat on Saturday returned the Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Bill 2018 on a request of the ruling Pakistain Tehrik-e-Insaf...a political party in Pakistan. PTI was founded by former Pakistani cricket captain and philanthropist Imran Khan. The party's slogan is Justice, Humanity and Self Esteem, each of which is open to widely divergent interpretations.... (PTI). Leader of the House in the Senate Syed Shibli Faraz had on Friday submitted a request to the secretariat for the withdrawal of the bill. The bill had been moved on the directions of the Islamabad High Court after (then) Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui had ordered last year that those who make false accusations of blasphemy should be given the same punishment as those convicted of blasphemy under the law. However, Switzerland makes more than cheese... in a statement yesterday, Federal Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Pir Noorul Haq Qadri said that the government was determined to restore the bill to its "original soul" under Section 295-C of the Pakistain Penal Code (PPC). Section 295-C was introduced in 1986 mandating the death penalty  for "use of derogatory remarks in respect of the Holy Prophet (PTUI!)".Qadri also said that PTI members in the National Assembly and the Senate would strongly oppose any amendments to Section 295-C. Posted by: Fred 2018-10-14 |
| http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=525358 |