Islamabad (AsiaNews) – The government has drafted a bill, the "Criminal Law (Amendment) Act", for the purpose of revising Hudood ordinances, blasphemy laws and honour killings (karo-kari) which, in line with the Qu'ran, allow the use of flogging and stoning to punish acts and behaviour considered incompatible with Shar'ia Law such as adultery, gambling, drinking alcoholic beverages, and crimes against property. Of particular importance is the fact that the amendment would treat honour killing as murder.

The news was made public on Thursday, July 8, by Pakistan's Justice Minister Raza Hayat Hiraj on a private TV station. He said that new amendment bill would be presented at the next cabinet meeting for approval. Later, it would be tabled in the National Assembly for debate and adoption. This bill was drafted with Supreme Court input and seeks to ban Karo-kari and remove flaws in Hudood ordinances and Blasphemy laws.

According to Liaqat Baloch of the Majlis-e-Amal (MMA), an alliance of six islamic parties, the amendment bill should not be tabled in Parliament before a consensus on matters as sensitive as Hudood and blasphemy is reached. He stated his opposition to the custom of Karo-kari but added that the government should not confuse Karo-kari with Hudood ordinances or acts of blasphemy.

A family from Moro (Sindh Province), Dr Amnat Solangi and her husband, Dr Ghulam Mustafa Solangi, took part in the TV programme. They said that a jirga (a council of elder tribal leaders) ordered their Karo-kari killing.

Dr Amnat, a gynaecologist earning up 50,000 rupees per month (600 euros), said that her brothers would not let her marry. "When I reached 40, I got married to Dr Solangi with my mother's permission. When the news of my marriage reached my brothers they called a jirga and got it to pass a death sentence on me and my husband", she added.

Her brothers said that they would forgive her husband if he divorced her and paid Rs. 20 lakh (about 50,000 euros) and handed over two women from his family as compensation.

Dr Ghulam Mustafa Solangi said that they had been hiding for the past year to save their lives. "We went to court in Karachi but we were attacked near the building", Dr Amnat said.

The Minister reassured both Dr Ghulam Mustafa Solangi and his wife that he would take up their case with the Chief Minister of Sindh Province and other officials and ensure justice for them.

He pointed out that the Sindh High Court has banned jirgas. The provincial government is therefore responsible for preventing any illegal orders passed by Elders' Councils from being implemented.

In the past, Pakistan's President, General Pervez Musharraf, has tried to abolish blasphemy laws, Hudood ordinances and honour killings but was unsuccessful because of opposition from Muslim fundamentalist groups.

In predominantly Muslim Pakistan many people have suffered as a result of blasphemy laws. Recently, a32-year old man, Samuel Masih, was killed by a prison guard for allegedly throwing litter against the wall of a mosque. Previously, Tahir Iqbal, a Muslim convert to Christianity, was poisoned to death while in prison. Niamat Ahmer, a teacher, poet and writer was killed in 1992. In the same year, Bantu Masih, a 80-year old man was stabbed to death in the full view of police officers. Mukhtar Masih, 50 years, was tortured to death while in police custody. In 1993, the young Christian Nazir Masih was tortured and killed in a Faisalabad police station. In 1994, 12-year old Salamat Masih, 37-year old Mansur Masih, and 42-year old Rehmat Masih were shot as they were leaving the Supreme Court building in Lahore where they had just been acquitted on blasphemy charges. In July 1995, Catherine Shaheen, a teacher, was denied her salary on grounds of blasphemy. Since then she has lived in hiding because of threats against her life made by some fundamentalists. In May 1998, Mons. John Joseph, the 66-year old Catholic bishop of Faisalabad and important human rights activist, killed himself in protest against the death sentence imposed on Ayub Masih, a Christian from his diocese, accused of having offended Islam. (QF)