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| India-Pakistan |
| Government barred from amending blasphemy law |
| 2010-12-07 |
| ISLAMABAD - The Lahore High Court (LHC) has barred the government from amending the blasphemy law, till the final decision of the court in a case involving death sentence awarded to a Christian woman Asia Bibi under blasphemy law. Let the seething commence ... The unprecedented move by the court that abridges the authority of the legislature to enact laws follows an earlier direction by the LHC to pre-empt and stall presidential pardon for the accused. The court gave the orders during the hearing of a petition filed to stop the government from tabling an amendment bill in the blasphemy law 295-C. Former Information Minister Sherry Rehman who has moved a draft for the amending the law promulgated in 1986 by Military ruler Gen. Ziaul Haq, has also been made a party to the petition. Notices have been issued to her and the federal government for submitting response by December 23 when the regulaqr hearing of the petition will resume. Meanwhile, the court extended the stay order in the Asia BibiÂ’s case till December 23. It declared that the government cannot proceed further on Asia BibiÂ’s mercy application till the set date. Religious lobbies have unleashed a fierce campaign against plans for any amendment in the law or pardon to Asia Bibi. Critics of the law say it is flawed and provides a lax procedure in registration of the caqse that is liable to be widely abused as has been the case in the past. |
| Posted by:Steve White |