Working to punish misuse of blasphemy law: Pak govt to court

The Pakistan government today informed the high court here that it is working on a legislation to introduce strict punishment for false accusations of blasphemy.
According to the blasphemy law, which is part of the Pakistan Penal Code, the punishment for blasphemy ranges from several years in prison to death.
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) last year in a verdict related to online blasphemous content had tasked the government with enhancing punishment for those falsely accusing others of blasphemy.
The interior ministry submitted a draft of the proposed amendments to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016 to the court which makes the punishment for a false accusation of blasphemy equal to the punishment for committing actual blasphemy.

But maximum punishment for a false accusation is only six months in jail or a minor Rs 1,000 fine, which makes the misuse of blasphemy laws easier.
The new law is being incorporated as follow up on the earlier orders of Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui of the IHC who said that a false accusation of blasphemy is the same as actual blasphemy.

Justice Siddiqui expressed satisfaction at the proposed law and observed that the credit for it goes to the judiciary, officials said.
They said that after approval by the court, the amendment to PECA would go to parliament for approval.

Pakistan's controversial blasphemy law was introduced by slain military dictator Zia-ul-Haq but rights activists allege it has been frequently misused to settle personal scores and disputes, and so far all efforts to reform it have failed due to opposition by religious extremists.
Till now no one has opposed the new law due to fear of contempt of court as it is being done as part of implementation of court orders.