Pak Punjab Assembly’s minority members demand review of blasphemy laws

LAHORE - In the wake of the brutal murder of two Christian brothers, who were charged for blasphemy, outside the Faisalabad court premises earlier this week, the minority members of the Punjab Assembly have called for a review of the Article 295-C of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC).

Provincial lawmakers are of the view that the said section of the PPC is being used to “victimise minorities on the basis of false allegations.”

Unidentified gunmen had shot dead Pastor Rashid Emmanuel and his brother Sajid, and also left their police escort critically wounded, as they were leaving the court after a hearing on Monday.

Addressing the Punjab Assembly, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) minority member Amir Javed Sahotra said that the brutal incident has highlighted how unsafe people belonging to the minority sect are in the country.

PML-Quaid member Shehzad Elahi also criticised the government over the issue, and said: “Christians are peaceful and loyal citizens of the country.”

Presenting government’s stand on the issue, provincial law minister Rana Sanaullah said that the government has already ordered a judicial probe into the murder.

Sanaullah rejected complaints of there being a security lapse which led to the assassination of the two Christian brothers.

“The murderer had come to the court dressed as a lawyer that is why he succeeded in killing the men,” The Daily Times quoted Sanaullah, as saying. (ANI)