Blasphemy case registered against Pakistani Ambassador

Blasphemy case registered against the Pakistani Ambassador to the US

Muhammad Faheem a businessman from Multan, Punjab province filed a complaint against Sherry Rehman the Pakistani Ambassador to the US, alleging that she committed blasphemy on a television talk show in November 2010.

Faheem filed an application at the police station, the police refused to do so, then he filed a writ at the Lahore High Court in December 2010 to registered a FIR against Sherry Rehman for blasphemy, but it was pending and ultimately rejected.

Muhammad Faheem took his plea to the Supreme Court to look into the matter and direct the concern authorities to act and register a case against Sherry Rehman.

On Thursday the Supreme Court issued orders to the Multan Police to register a complaint and investigate the matter. The complainant demands immediate arrest and prosecution against Rehman.

Sherry Rehman, a known high rights activist advocated the amendments in the controversial blasphemy laws, she proposed the amendments and presented the draft for discussion, she wanted all the stake holders to be on broad while discussing the proposed amendments. But she was pressurized by the religious organizations after Salman Taseer and Shahbaz Bhatti`s assassination.

Pakistan Peoples Party was in the favor of amending the blasphemy laws to stop the misuse of the law, but had to step back from their stance as the two high profile assassinations put an end to the debate about the proposed amendments and pressurized Rehman for withdrawing from her stance.

The Pakistan government appointed her as the Pakistani Ambassador to the US and sent her abroad for her own safety.

But Muhammad Faheem persuaded to get the case registered.

Yousaf Diyal a legal expert from Life for All said, " If Sherry Rehman is found guilty, she may face a sentence. The accusation of blasphemy laws in Pakistan often leads to death sentence or life imprisonment. "

Recently a 14 year old Christian girl Rimsha was implicated in a blasphemy case intentionally by a cleric in Islamabad, she was accused of 295 C, which leads to a death sentence or life imprisonment. Rimsha Masih was granted bail by the High Court and eventually she was acquitted after the Cleric`s statement that he internationally framed her.

Life for All condemns the registration of the case, " Such an application was entertained, it should have been rejected. The Blasphemy laws have been misused to settle personal disputes and vendettas. The blasphemy laws are misused, the number of cases in recent years have grown than in the last decade. Rimsha Masih`s case was also a test case for the system, now it`s about time that steps be taken to stop the misuse of the blasphemy laws. It is time to take serious initiatives for the interfaith harmony to decrease the growing religious intolerance."
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