August 11, 2023
Two Bills passed in Pakistan's legislature that increase the punishment for blasphemy offences, and fail to adequately safeguard minority rights.
On August 7, the Criminal Laws (Amendment) Act 2023 was approved by Pakistan's Senate, increasing penalties for blasphemy offenses. Simultaneously, the National Assembly passed the National Commission for Minorities Bill 2023 on the same day, which has raised concerns about the protection of religious minority rights.
Under the Criminal Laws (Amendment) Act 2023, the punishment for insulting the Prophet Mohammed's companions, wives, and family members has been elevated from a maximum of three years to a life sentence, not to be less than ten years. However, civil society and minority communities in Pakistan expressed apprehensions about potential rights abuses resulting from this legislation. These concerns were raised when the National Assembly initially endorsed the law in January 2023.
Despite the Human Rights Minister Riaz Hussain Pirzada's plea to revisit and reverse the Bill in February 2023, minority groups feel that their voices have been ignored by the government. Pakistan's blasphemy laws criminalize actions that insult Islam, carrying either the death penalty or life imprisonment. These laws are characterized by vague definitions and low evidence standards, often exploited for personal vendettas among both Muslims and non-Muslims, involving money, property, or business disputes.
Concurrently, on August 7, the National Assembly of Pakistan passed the National Commission for Minorities Bill 2023. Yet, this bill has raised concerns among civil society groups, as its provisions do not align with the UN Paris Principles, which set forth guidelines for national institutions to protect human rights. Furthermore, the bill fails to meet the directives of the Pakistan Supreme Court's judgment of June 19, 2014, which urged the establishment of a robust and comprehensive National Commission for Minorities' Rights. Despite the intention to address minority concerns, civil society asserts that the bill falls short of creating an effective, independent, and resourceful institution to safeguard minority rights.