Efforts to curb abuse of Pakistan’s controversial blasphemy laws suffered a major setback on July 24 when judges suspended a prior court order to form a commission to investigate misuse of the harsh laws, Morning Star News reported.
The division bench of the Islamabad High Court comprising Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro and Justice Mohammad Azam Khan issued the stay order after hearing preliminary arguments on appeals filed by leaders of a “blasphemy business group” challenging the July 15 ruling of IHC Justice Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan.
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Raised concerns
Attorney Kamran Murtaza, representing the “blasphemy business group,” reportedly argued that the petitioners were not granted a full right to a hearing and raised concerns over jurisdiction, noting that the matter involved around 400 cases, some beyond the IHC’s jurisdiction.
Murtaza, who is also a member of the Senate of Pakistan from the rightwing Islamist party, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam, also questioned the legal authority of the court to form such a commission, arguing it rested solely with the federal government.
Following the initial hearing, the high court reserved judgment on the appeal but suspended the single bench’s order for 30 days.
The suspended single-bench order was part of a nine-page, detailed judgment by Justice Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan, following 42 hearings in 101 petitions filed by families of victims of the blasphemy business gang, seeking formation of an inquiry commission.
World Watch
Pakistan ranked eighth on Open Doors’ 2025 World Watch List of the most difficult places to be a Christian.
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written and originally published by Morning Star News.
