ICC Note: 

The recent judgement of a court in Pakistan punishing the murders of two Christians accused of blasphemy will hopefully set a new precedent in the country. This recent punishment represents the first time the perpetrators of a religiously motivated crime against a religious minority have been punished. Will this be the beginning of a new day for Pakistan or will this just stand as one exception to the general rule? 

11/27/2016 Pakistan (The Express Tribune) – The anti-terrorism court’s judgement in the case of burning alive a Christian couple on allegations of blasphemy is commendable. The court awarded death sentence to five men for their involvement in killing the couple, Shama and Shehzad, in Kot Radha Kishan, Kasur in 2014.

The court has not only directed the convicts – Hafiz Ishtiaq (a religious cleric), Mehdi Khan, Riaz Kambo, Irfan Shakoor and Muhammad Hanif to pay Rs100,000 to the heirs of the victims, but also awarded two-year jail terms to each of the eight other convicts for aiding and abetting the horrific murders.

The prosecution also deserves appreciation for establishing the case, ensuring punishment for the convicts. But no matter how powerful the judgment is, it will not help the couple’s four children, who are currently living with their maternal grandfather after a tough court battle on their custody between the grandfather and his sons.

There is a possibility no one would have wished to support the children after their parents’ demise, if they were not given a piece of land and a reasonable compensation amount by the provincial and federal governments.

The case of Shama and Shehzad has emerged as an exception. Not a single case of such a nature has been decided in favour of the minorities before whether Christians, Hindus or Ahmadis.

Despite the Supreme Court’s order, the Hindu community awaits possession of their Balmiki graveyard in Lahore. Similarly, while nobody has been arrested for carrying out the twin suicide attacks on churches at Youhanabad, a number of Christians, including elderly men, are incarcerated on charges of burning two Muslim youth in reaction of the blasts.

The burning down of Joseph Colony has met the same fate. The Christian man, who was implicated in a blasphemy case, is facing a death term while all the accused of torching the colony have gone scot-free with a case against them lingering in the court.

A few weeks ago, a Lahore court acquitted all accused of desecrating a church by dropping charges against them.

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