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| India-Pakistan |
| Govt told to fix punishment for false blasphemy accusers |
| 2017-04-01 |
| [DAWN] The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday set a month’s deadline for the federal government to amend the law to fix punishment for falsely accusing someone of blasphemy. In a short order, the IHC asked the federal government to amend the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act 2016 adding in it offences related to blasphemy and pornography as well. The court disposed of a petition filed to block sacrilegious material from the social media after Attorney General Ashtar Ausaf submitted a statement that since the court had already pointed out the need for providing penal consequences for false accusations regarding blasphemy, the prime minister may direct the ministries to form a committee for assessing the existing legal regime and providing suitable amendments to various laws, including the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016. According to the statement of the attorney general, the proposed committee, headed by the minister of law and justice, would comprise the ministries of interior, information technology and religious affairs. Justice Siddiqui gave the government a month to take appropriate measures in this regard after which it would pass a detailed order. |
| Posted by:Fred |