GOVERNMENT OF PAKISTAN
Pakistan’s both houses of the Parliament have approved a bill titled ‘The Criminal Laws (Amendment) Act, 2023’ that amends a provision of 298-A for stricter punishment for Shi’a Muslims particularly over practicing their faith and rites.
The Provision of 298-A in the Pakistan Penal Code was introduced by dictator Ziaulhaq in 1980 through an Ordinance XX, that was passed by the National Assembly in 1985. Under the provision of 298-A, Shi’a Muslims of Pakistan are being booked in criminal cases just over practicing their faith. Before amending the 298-A, the offense was bailable, after amending it has become a non-bailable offense and the punishment has been extended to Life imprisonment.
(https://shiamuslimgenocide.com/pakistan-both-houses-of-parliament-approved-an-amendment-
to-amend-the-law-allowing-the-more-persecution-of-shia-muslims/ )
We the undersigned demand that governments of all Western countries and international human rights organizations put pressure on the Government of Pakistan to repeal all discriminatory blasphemy laws including the ‘The Criminal Laws (Amendment)Act 2023’.
We demand EU Union and the Governments of the USA and of UK, they should impose conditions of repealing the all-discriminatory blasphemy laws in Pakistan for releasing any funding, grants and borrowing.
We ask the Government of Pakistan, to stop legalizing the persecution of Shi’a Muslims through the provisions like 298-A, 295-B, and others in Pakistan Penal Code. Not only are blasphemy laws an affront to freedom of expression they are also a cause of religious discrimination and act to undermine religious freedom. In Pakistan, such laws are used as an excuse to attack minority communities as a whole as well as individuals within such communities.
Pakistan is a member state of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). The OIC played a large role in the making of United Nations Human Rights Council Resolution 16/18 which purports to be an instrument to promote religious tolerance. As such Pakistan should have no trouble abolishing its blasphemy laws and treating all religions, sects as equal within the borders of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
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