Pakistan aims to try blasphemy cases under anti-terror law
(Photo: Getty/iStock)A government concession to demands by a Muslim extremist political party to allow blasphemy charges under Pakistan's anti-terrorism laws has raised fears of more injustice for those accused under the harsh statutes, sources said.
Federal Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah and Economic Affairs Minister Sardar Ayaz Sadiq on June 17 signed an agreement with leaders of the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), Muhammad Shafique Amini and Allama Ghulam Abbas Faizi, that would allow blasphemy cases to be tried under the country's anti-terrorism law.
The agreement stipulates that punishment under Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) of 1997 would apply to suspects charged with committing blasphemy under the Pakistan Penal Code's Section 295-C against making derogatory remarks about Muhammad, the prophet of Islam. CT.
