Islamabad: Senate Standing Committee on Human Rights sought details of persons detained under blasphemy law from National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR). Senator Walid Iqbal chaired meeting.

According to an official handout, body adopted recommendation to constitute national coordination committee within Ministry of Human Rights to draft standard operating procedures for “Effective control on issues that cause suffering to minorities”.

Committee condemned Jaranwala incident, handout said. Handout said that committee “Repeatedly expressed concern over abuse of blasphemy laws” and observed that incidents like Jaranwala were cause for shame for nation. Senator Iqbal said, “We have asked about how many people are being tried under blasphemy law, how many people are in jail and how many people have been sentenced.” During hearing, Ministry of Human Rights Secretary Allah Dino Khowaja briefed committee on Jaranwala incident.

Secretary said that there was lack of coordination between federation and provinces. He proposed forming national coordination committee, adding that there was also need for improving policing. PML-N Senator Irfan Siddiqui however, disagreed with Seemee’s view.

“If there is no law, then there will be no way to curb it,” he said. Seemee said that there had to be reason why such incidents (of mob violence) were taking place with such frequency.

During hearing, PTI Senator Falak Naaz Chitrali raised issue of arrest of party’s women workers. She said that 35 PTI women were in jail.

Senator Iqbal said that committee would call meeting for this month. He said that meeting’s agenda would have arrest of PTI Chief and party’s women workers on agenda.

Published in The Daily National Courier, September, 13 2023

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