Pak draft apostasy law 'disturbing', says HRCP

Malaysia Sun (ANI) Saturday 12th May, 2007

Lahore, May 12 : Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) Chairperson Asma Jahangir has expressed grave concern over Government plans to introduce a law to punish apostasy.

In a statement issued on Friday, the HRCP said: "It is imperative that the authorities carefully consider any decision in this regard given the tendency to abuse laws in the country."

It further went on to say that "the blasphemy law, widely used to settle petty, personal disputes is a case in point with suffering inflicted on many innocent persons through its misuse."

"There is as such a danger the new law could ignite further sectarian friction and acrimony," the Daily Times quoted the HRCP statement, as saying.

It warned that a new law on religion may further damage the country's standing in the comity of nations, particularly at a time when violence by extremist groups has already brought it a bad name.