ICC Note:
Christians in Pakistan are hoping a new bill that makes mob violence illegal will be a helpful tool in protecting religious minorities. Mob violence against religious minorities has unfortunately become too common in Pakistan, especially following a religious minority being accused under the country’s notorious blasphemy laws. Recently, over 100 individuals accused of a mob attack on Joseph Colony, a Christian neighborhood in Lahore, were all acquitted despite ample video and photo evidence. Will this new bill actually help religious minorities or will it still fall to the courts to actually enforce the country’s laws when religious minorities are attacked? 
02/09/2017 Pakistan (Premeir) – There are hopes persecution against Christians in Pakistan is set to ease, after the country’s national assembly passed a new bill trying to protect religious minorities.
Mass lynching will be outlawed for the first time under the amendment, which now only requires the president’s approval before it becomes enshrined in law.
Organizations supporting believers under pressure for their faith have previously warned that false accusations of blasphemy – often used to settle personal scores – have prompted mob violence against Christians in Pakistan.
Samuel Pyara, president of the Bright Future Society, which raises awareness of Christian persecution, was quoted by AsiaNews.it as saying: “These measures were crucial to save our country.
“Mob justice has become a part of people’s mind-set. There was a great need to make it a punishable offence and we appreciate the government’s action.”
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