A Critical Study of Blasphemy Laws of Pakistan and their Impact on the Minorities of the Country

Abstract

The blasphemy laws are the parts of Pakistan Penal Code which were set up by the British regime in 1860. These laws were aimed to safeguard the religious feelings of the followers of various beliefs. The laws encompassed all the religions who lived in the subcontinent. It is also said that the sections 295-B and 295-C which were introduced in 1980s are meant to shield only one religion and that is Islam. This research has critically examined the blasphemy laws of Pakistan and their impacts on the status of non-Muslims living in the country. The study has highlighted views of the adherents and the opponents of these laws. It gives a fact sheet of what has happened so far in the country in terms of the outcomes of these laws. The research includes a recent survey on issue related to blasphemy and it ends up with few recommendations.

Keywords

• blasphemy
• ḥanafī school of thought
• qur’ān
• ḥadith
• sharī‘at
• four rightly guided caliphs
• umayyad
• abbasids