Pakistani Government Drafts Bill to Revise Criminal Law Act

Pakistani government announced last Thursday that it would introduce a new draft to revise the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, which includes the blasphemy laws and the Hudood Ordinances, and criminalise so-called 'honour' killings.

The Hudood Ordinances, introduced in 1979, deal with Islamic laws relating to criminal acts in Pakistan, where the country's state religion is Muslim. It has a population of 150 million of which 96 per cent is Muslim.

A few weeks ago, the National Commission for Justice and Peace organised a workshop - Repeal of blasphemy law and Hudood ordinances. A resolution passed on the occasion said the blasphemy law caused irreparable damage to peace and harmony by creating conflicts and intolerance in society. The law has been used for settling personal disputes by exploiting the religion.

"Thousands of citizens, including men, women and children, Muslims as well as non-Muslims, have suffered due to these ambiguous and ill-intentioned laws," it stated. More than 10,000 cases were being instituted in Pakistan annually under the Hudood Ordinances and a majority of the victims were women.

According to Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), several Christians were killed in recent months, some were accused of blasphemy and some were murdered by maulvis (mullahs) at a madrassah (Islamic school). International pressure has mounted on the Pakistani authorities to take action to curb religious intolerance.

Last month President Pervez Musharraf called for 'scrutiny' of the blasphemy laws and the Hudood ordinances, and an end to 'honour killings'. Although the move to reform the law is likely to draw fierce opposition from Islamic militant groups, CSW said. The Majlis--Amal (MMA), an alliance of six Islamic parties in the National Assembly, urged the Government not to table a bill until a consensus had been reached, although a spokesman said he opposed the custom of 'Karo-Kari' or 'honour killings'.

Mervyn Thomas, CSW's Chief Executive, welcomed the draft bill, but urged the Pakistani Government to go further. "Hundreds of people of all religions, including Muslims and Christians, have suffered unimaginable injustices and danger as a result of the blasphemy laws and the Hudood ordinances. We are pleased that the Pakistani authorities are now taking steps to address the discrimination, persecution and killings that have resulted from these unjust laws, but we do not believe that the laws can be revised or reformed. We stand with the women and the minorities of Pakistan in urging the Government to completely repeal these laws, and create a new atmosphere of religious freedom and tolerance."