Human Rights Minister Riaz Hussain Pirzada has urged Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to review the amended blasphemy law, saying the State had a duty to protect religious minorities as per Islam, as well as Constitution.
The National Assembly had passed the Criminal Laws (Amendment) Bill aimed at increasing punishment for disrespect of Ummahatul Momineen, Ahl-e-Bait, Khulfa-e-Rashideen and Sahaba-e-Kiram in the presence of just 15 MNAs.
In a letter to the PM, the human rights minister has said the bill was approved without “fulfilling the norms of parliamentary proceedings”. He also said the amendments were made to “please a specific group”.
The bill was moved by Maulana Abdul Akbar Chitrali of the Jamaat-e-Islami. The federal minister added the lower house approved the bill without fulfilling constitutional requirements like quorum and a meaningful debate by standing committees.
The amendments made in the bill has enhanced the minimum punishment for those who insult the sacred personalities from three to 10 years along with a fine of Rs1 million.
According to the amendment, the offence is non-bailable.
