Opinion Law and lawlessness

Daily Times reported on March 3: “the minister had… informed the interior ministry and cabinet division about the threats he received for his stand against the misuse of the blasphemy law. Bhatti had even asked for enhanced security… but his request was not entertained despite the fact the minister was on the hit list of religious extremists… Bhatti had… also asked for a residence in the Ministers’ Enclave over security reasons,a request which was not granted.” The Taliban claimed “documented responsibility” for the murder as they left pamphlets at the site of the crime stating that whoever “criticises the blasphemy law has no right to live”.

In his last interview to Daily Times less than 24 hours before his assassination,Bhatti spoke of religious fanaticism prevailing in Pakistan: “Bhatti categorically said all mullahs who made fatwas over blasphemy convicts be arrested… for initial investigation into Taseer’s assassination. He… pointed out blasphemy laws were man-made… and were being misused for political,religious and personal gains.”

Days before Bhatti lost his life for championing the cause of religious minorities,a group of Christians in Punjab failed to get a complaint registered against Muslim persons for offending their religious sensitivities. Daily Times reported on February 28: “The victims alleged the district police officer and the district coordination officer were supporting the miscreants involved in desecration of the Bible,the Cross and even graves of Christians despite warnings from the station house officer.”

The Express Tribune on March 4 reported that Bhatti’s murder,like Taseer’s,failed to elicit a formal condemnation in Parliament. The article stated: “The National Assembly failed to come up with a joint resolution condemning the murder of… Shahbaz Bhatti… repeating its failure to formally condemn the murder of Salman Taseer two months ago… PM Yousaf Raza Gilani did announce a three-day… mourning for Bhatti… but only after emotional speeches demanding this were made by a couple of Christian members and a token walkout by all parties.” It underscored that Pakistan’s parliament had in the past passed condemnation resolutions against blasphemy incidents in Europe,“though not the murder of government officials…”

Fuelling the fire

The other big story in Pakistan this week was a massive hike in fuel prices. A headline in The News on March 1 read: “Pakistan lobs petrol bomb at masses.” The report went on to say: “Exposing the nation to a new wave of inflation,the government… increased petroleum prices by 9.9 per cent,jacking up the price of high-speed diesel by Rs 7.76 per litre to Rs 86.09 and of petrol (motor spirit) by Rs 7.23 per litre to Rs 80.19 per litre… This increase may force the inflation-stricken masses to… hold countrywide demonstrations against the government.”A couple of weeks back,a similar hike in fuel prices stirred the opposition (PML-N and MQM) into action. With sustained effort,they had prevailed upon the PPP to roll back the hike.

Bad judgment

Pakistan’s former chief justice,Abdul Hameed Dogar,made a surprising public declaration of regret at taking the oath of office under the Provisional Constitutional Order (PCO). Dogar had replaced the incumbent Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry when he was deposed by Pervez Musharraf,after he announced emergency in 2007. Dawn reported on March 4: “Dogar threw himself at the mercy of the Supreme Court… by saying sorry and showing repentance for having taken oath under the PCO.” A four-judge bench of the supreme court of Pakistan is trying nine judges for contempt of court.

Davis’s low immunity

According to a report in Dawn on March 3,a sessions court hearing Raymond Davis’s case rejected the claim that he enjoyed diplomatic immunity,and decided to go ahead with his trial. Another report added the Lahore high court struck down a request to transfer him from Lahore’s Kot Lakhpat jail to the high-security Adiala jail in Rawalpindi. The petitioner stated the transfer could make Davis’s handover to the US “easier”.