National Commission for Justice and Peace
CAMPAIGN AGAINST BLASPHEMY LAWS
CHRISTIAN-MUSLIM DELEGATION MET WITH MINISTER ZAFARUL HAQ
A joint delegation of Christian and Muslim leaders met with Raja Zafarul Haq, Federal Minister for Religious and Minorities Affairs, on May 19,1998 in Islamabad and expressed their concern over the misuse of blasphemy laws. They also shared their grievances about those falsely accused under these laws. During the meeting the Christian leaders called for the repeal of the laws.
Among the joint delegation were: Dominican Father James Channan, executive secretary of Commission for Christian-Muslim Relations of Catholic Bishops Conference of Pakistan; Maulana Abdul Qadir Azad, prayer leader of Badshahi Mosque, Lahore, Pakistan’s largest mosque; and Al-Haj Sahibzada Faizul Qadri, president of the Ulema (Islamic scholars) Conference Pakistan.
The minister called to the attention of the delegation to the Sections 194 and 195 of the Pakistan Penal Code, which penalize testimony intended to falsely convict someone of a capital offense with up to life imprisonment, or possibly with death if an innocent person is executed because of false testimony.
ISLAMABAD SETS UP INTERFAITH GROUP TO PROBE MINORITY GRIEVANCES
Pakistan’s government has set up a commission on which Muslims and minority community members are equally represented to look into minority grievances and foster inter-communal tolerance in the society. On May 25, Federal Minister for Religious and Minorities Affairs Raja Zafarul Haq, announced the establishment of the body, which he heads. The minister said that the Commission for Interfaith Dialogue comprises 20 religious leaders of their respective communities: 10 Muslims, four Christians, two Hindus, two Sikhs and two from other minority groups.
REGISTER BLASPHEMY CASE AFTER THOROUGH PROBING
On May 25, the chief of the Punjab police asked all the high-ranking police officials in the province to submit details of past cases filed under Section 295-C, and the police inspector general directed the police to register blasphemy cases only after a thorough probing.
SHAFIQUE MASIH HAULED UP FOR BLASPHEMY
A blasphemy case was registered at Faisalabad on May 29 against Shafique Masih (25), a Christian from a village, Chak No. 197 near Faisalabad, for allegedly saying insulting words against the Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H). He has been booked under the controversial Section 295-C of the Pakistan Penal Code. The prosecution story says that a passing by man heard the remarks, derogatory to Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H.). He got hold of Shafique Masih and beat him badly. As the news of this incident spread through the area, hundreds of people started reaching this village, shouting slogans against Christians, and calling for Shafique Masih’s death.
Police said, the mob tried to kill Shafique Masih by stoning and put his house on fire. Shafique Masih was produced before the area magistrate and was sent to jail on judicial remand. According to our investigation it was a personal dispute over giving facility of electricity which ended up in persecution of Shafique Masih. The case like the previous ones appears to be totally baseless and false.
SOLIDARITY DAY WITH CHRISTIANS
On June 1, the Pakistan Council for Social Welfare and Human Rights held a solidarity day with the Christian community at Sialkot.
CHRISTIAN-MUSLIM PEACE COMMITTEE
On June 3, in Faisalabad a joint meeting of the Ulema belonging to all Muslim sects and representatives of the Christian community decided that in future no case under blasphemy laws would be registered until and unless a joint body of both the communities verifies facts of the occurrence.
The meeting also announced formation of a joint peace committee at divisional level with Pir Muhammad Ibrahim as its chairman. This committee is recognized by the local authorities as well and the Assistant Commissioner of Faisalabad is a member of this committee. They also urged the government to amend Section 295-C and provide capital punishment for those who falsely implicate innocent people in blasphemy cases.
According to Mr. Michael Johnson MPA, in Faisalabad division, after the death of Bishop John Joseph, these were three Christians, Ranjha Masih, Shafique Masih and Carnilious, accused in different incidents, for blasphemy.
He further stated that a Christian from Gojra, a city near Faisalabad, Mr. Carnilious, a government school teacher, was accused for blasphemy on June 16. Due to the intervention of this committee the life of the Christian was saved and there was no case registered against him. As a solution Mr. Carnilious was transferred to an other city.
“BISHOP JOHN’S SUICIDE,” INVESTIGATIVE TEAM CLAIMS
The investigative team, which was set up by the government to investigate the death cause of Bishop John Joseph, has finalized its report. According to the team’s findings, Bishop John’s death was not a murder but suicide. The investigation team submitted its report to the government on June 10,1998.
CHRISTIAN LEADERS BODY WILL WORK AGAINST DISCRIMINATORY LAWS
New elected councilors, pastors, catechists and social workers from Multan, Bahawalpur and Dera Ghazi Khan divisions gathered together in Chak No.133, Mian Channu, on June 13,1998. About 150 men and women gathered together for a one day rally against the discriminatory laws in pre-dominated Christian village of Khanewal district. They formed a coordination committee to fight against the discriminatory laws, which were affecting the religious minorities in Pakistan. The committee will work in three divisions of Southern Punjab.
Speakers of the rally said that Bishop John Joseph gave his life for his people to save them from the inhuman also called Islamic laws. The participants of the rally re-affirmed to continue their struggle against all kind of discriminations.
They rejected all the discriminatory laws, weather on the basis of religion or gender, and also announced to continue struggle against these laws. They rejected the separate electorates and decleared it a conspiracy against Pakistani laws and constitution. They also demand that government should abolish separate electorates and introduce joint electorate system.
The coordination committee will form action committees in all the district headquarters. In every district, a workshop will be organized every month to educate the people about the blasphemy laws.
Fr. Younas Alam, parish priest of Ch.133/16-L, the host of the rally, Aftab Alexander Mughal, executive secretary of Justice and Peace Commission of Major Superiors, were among the speakers who addressed the rally. Pakistan Labour Party invited their team to stage a play.
MINORITIES CALL FOR REPEALING ANTI CHRISTIAN LAWS
The participants of the Minority Parties Conference held in Lahore, 330 kilometers in south of Islamabad, on June 21 urged the government to repeal all discriminatory law against Christians. The conference organized by the Christian Liberation Front (CLF) of Pakistan, was attended by minority members of the provincial assemblies of Punjab, North West Frontier Province and of the Sindh province, The participants were the bishops, lawyers, social workers, religious and political leaders.
Addressing the conference they said that all discriminatory laws which caused violence in the country must be repealed. They urged the minorities to promote harmony and solidarity in the country. About 200 men and women, representative of some 55 minority parties said, that the Christians’ sacrifices for the creation of Pakistan could never be forgotten. They announced that Pakistan was created because of solidarity among the Muslims and the Christians and its future can be secured only if this solidarity and commitment continues.
They said “we were Pakistani and we wanted the welfare of the country and will never allow any anti-state elements to succeed in their evil designs.”
A Catholic Bishop, Bonaventure Paul OFM, chairperson of National Justice and Peace Commission of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Pakistan was the chief guest. Father Bonnie Mendes gave the opening address while Group Capt. (retd.) Cecil Chudhary gave the key note address.
CHRISTIAN MPAs ANNOUNCE PROTEST RESIGNATION
On June 21, after the minority conference, the Christian Members of Provincial Assemblies (MPAs), Johnson Michael from Punjab, Saleem Khokhar and Javaid Michael from Sindh province and Volter Siraj from North West Frontier Province addressing a joint press conference in Lahore, warned the government that if their demands were not met, minority legislators would resign from their seats in protest.
This announcement created embarrassing situation for the government. According to Mr Johnson Michael, MPA from Punjab, that Mr Shahbaz Sharif, the chief minister of Punjab called him on June 22 and talked about the situation of blasphemy law. The chief minister told the Christian MPA that the government was sympathetic to the Christians’ point of view but due to the protest and pressure from Molvies (Muslim religious leaders), the government was unable to change or repeal the law.
GOVERNMENT URGED TO INSERT THE WORD “WILLFULLY” IN THE BLASPHEMY LAW
The government of Pakistan is ready to insert the word “willfully” in the blasphemy law, Section 295-C of Pakistan Penal Code (PPC).
According to the Christian leaders, after the national minority conference in Lahore on June 21, the government officials had been trying to contact the leaders of Christian Liberation Front (CLF), who had organized the conference, to negotiate on the issue of blasphemy laws.
According to Mr Shahbaz Clement Bhatti, the president of CLF, that after the conference, on June 22, Mr. Syed Mushahid Hussain, Federal Information Minister, contacted him. On June 25, the minister contacted him again and informed that had a meeting with Raja Zafarul Haq, Federal Minister for Minorities Affairs and Khalid Anwar, Federal Law Minister and they had agreed to insert the word “willfully” in the law. Shahbaz Bhatti said that our demand was not an amendment but total repeal of the law.
He also said that many secular political parties e.g. National Awami Party, had contacted us that they were ready to sit with us during any press conference to support our demand.
MUSLIM RELIGIOUS LEADERS IN FAVOUR OF BLASPHEMY LAW
On June 25, Syed Atta-ul-Hassan Bukhari, leader of Majlase Ahrar (a Muslim religious party) said that Muslims will not allow any body to change the blasphemy law. He was addressing a one-day Serat (life of Holy Prophet) Conference in Multan, 633 kilometers south of Islamabad.
PLEA FOR FRESH AUTOPSY OF BISHOP’S BODY
On June 25 the district magistrate, Sahiwal, adjourned the hearing of an application seeking fresh autopsy of the dead body of Bishop Dr John Joseph of Faisalabad who `committed suicide’ on May 6. Lawyers have been asked to come on July 1 for the completion of their arguments. Bilal Saeed and other advocates had filed a petition with the District Magistrate for the re- autopsy of the body.
BISHOP JOHN JOSEPH’S CAR TAKEN AWAY
On June 5, late Bishop John Joseph’s car along with his driver Babu Patras was hijacked at gun point while he was traveling to Lahore. The driver and three minor girls, traveling with him, were released but the car was taken away. According to a press report of June 8, police had registered a case against 5 persons, including Shah Kot’s Muthhi Gangs’ Salamat and Abbass Muthhi.
JP COMMISSION IS GOING TO ORGANIZE WORKSHOPS ON LOCAL LEVEL
The Justice and Peace Commission’s Multan regional group of Major Superiors Leadership Conference of Pakistan has decided during its meeting on June 26 at Chak 133, that they will organize 7 workshops in the region on local level. Leaders will be invited to these educational workshops and the effects of the blasphemy laws will be discussed during these workshops.
Aftab Alexander Mughal, Executive Secretary
July 1,1998
