Call to ensure fair probe into blasphemy cases

LAHORE: Former provincial minister for human rights and minority affairs and current Member of the Provincial Assembly Ijaz Alam Augustine has called on the state to amend the death penalty law, ensure impartial investigation of blasphemy cases, and release all innocent individuals.

Speaking at an event held in observance of the World Day Against the Death Penalty, Augustine stated that the death penalty law is gradually being abolished worldwide, but in Pakistan, anyone can be falsely accused and trapped.

He noted that investigations into the blasphemy cases that have emerged so far have revealed different facts, yet no false accusers have been punished. Meanwhile, entire communities have been burned down. He argued that if the guilty were punished, incidents like those in Jaranwala would not occur.

The event was attended by scholars, pastors, lawyers, representatives of civil society, and journalists. Addressing the participants, Augustine lamented that in Pakistan, unfortunately, the law is not the same for everyone, which is why crime persists.

Organizer of the event and head of the social organization Redemption, Arne Arthur, said over 3,000 people are imprisoned in false blasphemy cases, and the judiciary is not even willing to hear their cases.

Discussing the challenges faced by media representatives in reporting such issues, Secretary of the Punjab Union of Journalists, Hasnain Tirmizi, stated that had the real facts behind incidents in places like Kot Radha Kishan, Sheikhupura, Nishtar Colony, Joseph Colony, Badami Bagh, Jaranwala, and now Umerkot been brought to light, it would have become clear who is guilty and who is innocent.