Pakistan Blasphemy Cases

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CALL FOR PROTECTION OF LAWYERS
DEFENDING BLASPHEMY CASES IN PAKISTAN

By Sheraz Khurram Khan
Special Correspondent for Assist News Service in Pakistan

Saturday, February 25, 2006

LAHORE, PAKISTAN (ANS) -- A human rights organization has urged Pakistani government to ensure protection of lawyers defending people accused of blasphemy in the country. It has also called for measures to ensure that the blasphemy accused are treated as innocent until proven guilty.

The renewed call for protection of Pakistani lawyers and the blasphemy accused by Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) came after Parvez Aslam Choudhry, a lawyer who has defended many blasphemy accused in the High Court Pakistan received frequent death threats while defending blasphemy case against one Yousaf Masih, who was allegedly charged with flinging a burning matchstick on November 12, 2005 in the Quran Mahal, a Islamic school situated in the Sangla Hill stadium which caught fire.

CSW said that both Parvez Aslam and Yousaf Masih have been receiving death threats. Parvez was physically assaulted outside Lahore High Court, it said.

“ On January 26 a van drove into his car on his way home from court, causing him minor injuries. This is not the first time Mr Choudhry, Chairman of a Lahore-based legal group known as "Legal Aid for Destitute and Settlement" (LADS), has been in danger”, said CSW.

In a statement issued on Feb 24 CSW's Chief Executive Mervyn Thomas urged Pakistani government and police to take measures aimed at providing protection to Parvez Choudhry and other lawyers like him and to ensure that those accused of blasphemy are treated as innocent until proven guilty.

Extremists should be regarded as in contempt of court when they threaten and demonstrate inside the court room, he said, adding that urgent action should be taken to stop the harassment and intimidation of lawyers and those accused.

"We want the blasphemy laws repealed. Almost all accusations of blasphemy are false. But until the laws are repealed, we urge the Pakistani Government to ensure that those who are accused of blasphemy and those who defend them are given proper protection and the norms of justice are followed." CSW quoted Executive Secretary of All Pakistan Minorities Alliance (APMA) Cecil Choudry as saying.

Hurling of death threats to the lawyers and the blasphemy accused in Pakistan amid continuing anti-cartoon protest rallies leaves the human rights organization gravely concerned.

CSW condemned torching of two churches in Sukkur, Pakistan on Feb 19 after reports of alleged desecration of Quran, the Muslims holy book.

"We strongly condemn this terrible break down of law and order ... It is sad to note that the places of worship of the religious minorities are increasingly becoming a target. ... The government has failed in addressing the root causes of religious intolerance.... We demand the government of Pakistan to make people at home aware of the consequences of redundant, misleading and dangerous concepts of blasphemy." CSW quoted Chairman National Commission for Justice and Peace Archbishop Lawrence J Saldanha and NCJP executive secretary Peter Jacob as saying.

International Human Rights Watchdogs have been campaigning for long to press Pakistani government to repeal blasphemy laws, which are now widely being misused by members of majority for settling their personal scores with members of weaker segments of society.

The writer is a freelance journalist based in Pakistan

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