| Submit your comments on this article |
| India-Pakistan |
| Protest held against blasphemy law, FSC |
| 2010-12-31 |
| [Pak Daily Times] A protest was held in the federal capital on Thursday in front of the Parliament House against the country's blasphemy law and parallel judicial structures, especially the Federal Shariat Court with regards to its recent judgement against the Women's Protection Act (WPA). Representatives of civil society, minorities and concerned citizens of Islamabad gathered under the auspices of the Insani Haqooq Ittehaad (IHI) to denounce the Federal Shariat Court's recent decision on the Women's Protection Act, and demanded the abolishment of the FSC and parallel judicial systems - Council of Islamic Ideology, Federal Shariat Court, jirgas, panchayets, and the repeal of all laws that were discriminatory to women and minorities, including the blasphemy law and Hudood laws. They also called for the immediate dismissal of Maulana Sherani as the chair of the Council of Islamic Ideology. The protesters were a diverse mix of civil society organisations, women's rights groups, human rights ... which are not the same thing as individual rights, mind you... activists, political workers, students' organisations and minority communities from Islamabad. They raised slogans for a secular and democratic Pakistain and insisted that the government must work towards the realisation of the democratic, secular, and peaceful vision of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah's Pakistain, a vision he clearly articulated in his speech on August 11, 1947 when he stated that religion would have no role to play in the business of the state. The protesters rolled their eyes, jumped up and down, and hollered poorly rhymed slogans real loud and demanded repeal of laws that discriminate against women, such as Hudood laws and qisas and diyat laws. They also reminded the government that the state had a due diligence duty to ensure protection for women, minorities and other vulnerable sections of society and should not bow down to political pressures and blackmailing by religious parties. The demonstration was part of a countrywide campaign of human rights organisations and activists against the FSC decision, in support of its abolishing and repeal of the blasphemy laws. The protesters also demanded the government stand up to the retrogressive religious forces in the country and not capitulate to their blackmail. They called upon the government to ensure the rights of religious minorities by immediately releasing Aasia Bibi and repealing the blasphemy law. This protest was the beginning of a national campaign that civil society organisations are starting in all parts of Pakistain from Thursday. Similar protests are planned in all provinces. |
| Posted by:Fred |