Part Three - Politics, People and Prayer: Behind the Blasphemy Law in Pakistan

Real Politik

Pakistan has not been afforded the luxury of a stable political system. Between the military dictatorships of ul Haq in 1988 and Musharraf in 1999, the pendulum of power has swung between governments led by Benazir Bhutto as leader of the Pakistani’s People Party (PPP) and Nawaz Sharif, leader of the Pakistani Muslim League – Nawaz Group (PML-N). Battling constant allegations of corruption, satisfying the electorate and appeasing the religious elements of society has left little time for action on the blasphemy law.

During Bhutto’s second term in office, she was unable to make procedural changes to the law, let alone abolish it. Musharraf was similarly unsuccessful in 2005. After the fall of Musharraf in 2008, and the introduction of another PPP government under Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani and Asif Ali Zardari, Bhutto's widower, the law remains intact.

In November 2010, PPP Member of National Assembly (MNA) and former Information Minister Sherry Rehman brought a private member’s bill to the National Assembly to amend the blasphemy law. The most important amendment Rehman proposed was to replace the death penalty in section 295-C with a 10-year sentence. The government has maintained that the PPP is not associated with the bill and it should be viewed as a private member’s bill.

On January 1^st, a strike in Pakistan’s largest urban centre, the port city of Karachi, was organized in condemnation of the proposed amendments. The city was virtually shut down as businesses and transport operators stopped service to protest the amendments.

In addition to this opposition is the added complication of the support of lawyers, religious leaders, and political parties of the actions of Mumtaz Qadri, Salman Taseer’s killer. Public rallies held in support of Qadri’s cause have put the government further on edge.

The PPP government is already in a minority position, and needs the support of coalition parties in order to effectively lead the country. With the withdrawal of key support from the Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) earlier this month, the government cannot afford an unpopular move. Amending the blasphemy law may prove to be political suicide, even if the act itself is in line with the ideology of the party. This paints a bleak picture for those that hope the blasphemy law will be repealed and dark implications for the possibilities of a true democracy in Pakistan.