The straightforward fact is, when I am writing
these lines; I find no hope provision of justice and protection to marginalized
portion of the society. I am representative of the most vulnerable community of
the country, largely dealt under Islamic militancy. Until 2006, rape in
Pakistan was a crime that was largely dealt with under Islamic law. Women had
to produce four male witnesses to the crime. The failure to do so could mean
being charged with adultery. On the other hand, anyone can be charged with
blasphemy and be immediately detained without safeguards or the opportunity for
bail. Under this law, the only evidence needed is one “reliable” man’s word.
Ill-treatment and torture of the accused in the custody are common practice.
Judicial proceedings can take years, resulting in innocent victims languishing
in jails with pending trails or appeal. Judges become biased and legal
representative and care takers are threatened. Political leaders, police and officials
in the judicial system often collude in the victimization of the poorest in
society.
Because the blasphemy law is open to abuse it has become a
powerful tool to ignite religious extremism, encourage hostility towards
minority groups and give Islamic zealots opportunities to take the law in their
hands. During the last few years many Christians have been falsely accused of
blasphemy under this law – often mischievously by people with selfish motives
and the number is rising. Pakistan’s tough blasphemy laws have attracted
criticism from rights groups, who say they are frequently abused to settle
personal scores.
According to a study by USAID, Pakistani courts roots in the
British colonial system means that across much of the country they are viewed
with considerable suspicion, and that skepticism has fueled doubts about their
legitimacy. Questions about legitimacy are compounded by the low level of
efficiency, the prevalence of delays, the inferior quality of legal training,
corruption, and perception that the court system is a tool for the delay of
justice, manipulated by rich and/or powerful interests in the society.
In the same situation; proceedings of the current blasphemy
cases are interrupted. Attorney and caretakers are being threatened; pamphlets
are dropped in their offices warning them to disassociate themselves from
blasphemy cases dealings. Christians face number of problems because of other
laws concerning marriage, divorce, guardianship and inheritance. In cases of
abduction of Christian women, the Muslim man can declare that his abducted wife
has converted to Islam. Thus marriage, solemnized under the family laws of
non-Muslims, can be dissolved with immediate effect.
In this situation; what we need to do, either to sit and
wait for anyone to intrude or take some sold steps, to hold their horses. If
Pakistan wishes to overcome its security issues, it must reject militancy in
its entirety, even so called freedom fighters. We have exhausted all options of
talks; a military option seems like the only step to curb elements that
destabilize the country. In long term, the government needs to support efforts
to promote interfaith harmony and generate dialogue that can find a middle
ground on ideological divisions. The future of vulnerable minorities looks
bleak in a country that is religiously sensitive and combustible to variance in
ideologies. The state has failed to perform its primary duty of protecting its
citizens. Meanwhile, the minorities remain in fear and fight for survival.
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