Activists demand legal safeguards to protect innocent lives

12 October 2024 – Human rights activists have expressed deep concern over the ongoing
misuse of blasphemy laws and have called for urgent legal reforms and enforcement of strong
administrative measures to hold accountable those responsible for inciting hatred and violence,
including extrajudicial killings and mob attacks carried out under the pretext of blasphemy
accusations.
In a meeting, activists lamented the wrongful prosecution of two sisters, Saima and Sonia,
from Village 304, Tehsil Gojra, Toba Tek Singh District. The sisters were allegedly accused of
discarding a sack of waste paper containing sacred inscriptions onto an empty plot.
However, the court granted them bail after determining that they had been falsely accused of
blasphemy under Section 295-B of the Pakistan Penal Code.
Chaudhry Haneef Hameed Mithu Advocate emphasized that the accusations made on 6 August
2024 against Saima and Sonia were fabricated maliciously and lacked credible
witnesses. He noted that Saima, a volunteer lady health worker, and Sonia, who runs a local
school, had vehemently denied the blasphemy allegations, reaffirming their deep respect for all
sacred texts. The accusations, they said, were baseless and driven by personal vendettas. Mithu
further highlighted that Saima, a widow, is the sole provider for her children after the loss of
her husband and parents. However, both sisters continue to face threats and live in constant
fear of vigilante justice.
Joseph Jansen, Chairperson of Voice for Justice, expressed his profound concern over the
growing misuse of blasphemy laws in Pakistan, as demonstrated in the case of Saima and Sonia.
He also cited other recent instances of blasphemy-related mob violence, including the
extrajudicial killings of Nazir/Lazar Masih in Sargodha, Muhammad Sulaiman in Swat, Syed Khan
in Quetta, and Dr. Shahnawaz Kanbar in Umerkot. He emphasized the urgency of reforming
blasphemy laws, stating that the abuse of these laws, driven by false accusations, must be
addressed before more innocent lives are tragically lost.
A human rights activist, Anosh Waseem said that Blasphemy accusations often lead to mob
violence and extrajudicial killings, which are avoidable if appropriate legal safeguards are in
place. The state's failure to protect its citizens and uphold the rule of law has created a climate
of fear and impunity for perpetrators.
A human rights defender, Aneel Edger called for the prosecution of individuals who incite
violence through false blasphemy accusations, stressing the importance of ensuring
accountability to safeguard citizens' lives and maintain the rule of law.