Prime Minister Imran Khan has said that Pakistan’s blasphemy laws are misused to wrongfully accuse people of sacrilege and kill them in the name of religion, adding that this violence only happens in Pakistan.
While addressing a condolence gathering for Sri Lankan national Priyantha Kumara at Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) in Islamabad, the premier said that the name of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and Islam was used to falsely accuse people of blasphemy and later kill them. He added that once someone is accused of blasphemy no lawyer is willing to defend that person and no judge dares acquit him or her.
The PM said that after being accused of blasphemy, the person is not supported by anyone. He regretted that such things don’t happen in any other society except ours.
The PM also awarded a certificate of appreciation to Malik Adnan, who had tried to save Priyantha Kumara from the mob that later lynched him and set his body on fire. While praising Adnan’s courage, the premier said that role models were needed in a country for the youth to follow and Adnan had set an example for others to follow.
He added that Adnan had displayed moral courage, in trying to save a fellow human being’s life, which is much greater than physical courage. The PM further said that people would remember Adnan as the man who stood up against monsters.
While talking about the menace of raising faith-based violence in the country, the PM said that he had resolved that people who use religion as an excuse to persecute and oppress others will not be spared.
Drawing an analogy between the attack on the Army Public School (APS) in Peshawar, in December 2014, and the Sialkot incident, the premier said that just like the nation had united against terrorism following the school attack, it was now united to make sure that incidents like the one in Sialkot never happen again.
He added that he was getting messages from Pakistanis all over the world who were ashamed of the Sialkot incident.
