Call for Pakistani government to intervene in Asia Bibi case

The former secretary of the Pakistani Bishops Justice and Peace Commission has appealed for the Pakistani government to protect people suffering from religious discrimination. Peter Jacob said: "The federal and provincial ministries should take the responsibility to monitor, protect and defend cases against people accused of blasphemy, including that of Asia Bibi."

"The governments of the country are responsible for allowing the abuse of the blasphemy law, giving rise to a climate of widespread insecurity, ignoring possible solutions or remedial actions to the problem, he said.

"Today, therefore they cannot ignore the problem. The state has a responsibility to protect the accused, who are too often victims of extrajudicial killings."

Jacob praised many lawyers and judges, who have shown a  life-long commitment to defend those accused of blasphemy. He cited two cases in which Christians were falsely accused - Salamat Masih and Rimsha Masih. The cases were eventually acquitted.

Jacob said there should be a "greater involvement of the government in defense of blasphemy cases" and he particularly called for government intervention in the case of Asia Bibi, where the Lahore High Court has rejected an appeal against the death sentence for blasphemy.

Source: Fides

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