Governor of Punjab: the law on blasphemy should be abolished

(September 19, 2009) Abolishing the blasphemy law to protect minorities: This is what has been "suggested" by Salman Taseer, Governor of Punjab, who is urging the central government "to consider the repeal" of a law – a plea that has been repeated on several occasions by the Christian community in Pakistan – a law that is used by Islamic fundamentalists to commit crimes and violence. Christian leaders have reacted positively, but now expect concrete steps from the central government. The blasphemy law - said Salman Taseer - should be repealed to protect minorities, particularly the growing violence and persecution against Christians by extremists. Commenting on the statements of Governor of Punjab, Peter Jacob, Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Justice and Peace (NCJP) of the Catholic Church said that "it is an important statement" and "a welcome one. But what counts most, added the activist Catholic is that the Prime Minister of Pakistan ought to speak of the matter and explain to the people what's happening in the country.” In recent months Pakistan has experienced an escalation in attacks against Christians and their places of worship, committed in the name of "the alleged desecration of the Quran." According to data collected by NCJP from 1986 to August 2009, at least 964 people have been charged under the blasphemy law: among these were 479 Muslims, 119 Christians, 340 Ahmadis, 14 Hindu and 10 of unknown religion.