'Blasphemy law root cause of violence against Pakistan Christians'

Mr George Murad, a prominent Pakistani Christian in the United States had said the "blasphemy law is the root cause of violence against minority Christians in Pakistan".

The 60-year-old, born in a famous Christian village Khushpur in district Faisalabad in Punjab province, who immigrated to the States in 1999, in an interview with Pakistan Christian Post said if the blasphemy law is abolished altogether, "it will create harmony in society and respect for other religions which shall prevent false accusations of blasphemy on Christians.

According to Pakistan Penal code "Use of derogatory remarks, etc in respect of the Holy Prophet; whoever by words, either spoken or written or by visible representation, or by any imputation, innuendo, or insinuation, directly or indirectly, defiles the sacred name of the Holy Prophet Mohammed shall be punished with death, or imprisonment for life, and shall also be liable to fine."

The province where Murad was born became the epicentre of attacks against Christians on an alleged blasphemy. The violent attack by a Muslim mob on Christians in Gojra city on Aug.1 killed 11 Christians, burnt down at least 60 homes and two Churches, drawing an international outcry.

And on Sept.12, Danish 'Masih' Robert was found murdered inside prison in Sialkot, two days after he was arrested on blasphemy charge. On July 30 also a Muslim mob burnt down about 100 Christians homes in Korian on the same charge.

Mr Murad said: "The Christians in Pakistan are not enjoying equal rights. I am firm that we must launch peaceful struggle for equal democratic rights for our community."

"After legislation of this (blasphemy) law in 1986, scores of Christians have been arrested under section 295 B and C of PPC and many gunned down by hands of Islamic extremists or killed in jails.

"The law has been used against Christians in business rivalry and personal grudges by few Muslim groups," he said.

"It was worst shape of humanity that Christian children, women and men were burnt alive in Pakistan which have sparked fear among Christians in Pakistan," referring to the Gojra incident where 8 out of the 11 deaths were actually burnt to death.

"I want to assure that Christians never defiled name of Holy Prophet Mohammad nor desecrated Holy Quran but such incident are planned to accuse Christians and persecute them.

"I will propose repeal of blasphemy law but if government faces any hindrance to seek majority vote for amendments, I will urge to legislate blasphemy on defiling name of Lord Jesus Christ and desecration of Holy Bible by any Muslim in Pakistan," he added.

Mr Murad, graduated from St. Paul's High School and Technical Institute in Sargodha, the city where many pastors and Christian institutions received a threatening letters from Islamist warning them to convert or pay Islamic 'Jizia' tax, or else face dire consequences. He served in Catholic's relief agency Caritas Pakistan and Afghan Refugee Program and later went to Saudi Arabia and moved finally to the States.

Murad has been campaigning to make awareness about the persecuted Christians in Pakistan ever since he landed in the States in 1999 said that he "will demand Dual Voting rights for Christians in Pakistan"; because Mr Murad said, "the Joint election system (currently in use) result in selection of few Christians who were forced to speak only on instructions of their party leaders".

Pakistan Christian Congress has been campaigning to repeal the blasphemy law. World Council of Churches (WCC) too had formally urged Pakistani government to amend the controversial law.

The government said last month that it is looking into the matter, but did not elaborate the time-frame it is going to take and the manner in which changes will be made.

According to the CIA World Factbook, Christians including Protestants and Catholics make up less than 5 percent of Pakistan's 175 million people; they generally live in peace with their Muslim neighbors till a series of attacks on the blasphemy charges emerged frightening the Christian community.