Source/Credit: Ahmadiyya Times
By Imran Jattala | November 17, 2011
Imran Khan has repeatedly asserted that Pakistan’s Blasphemy Law has been around for a long time and exists for valid reasons. Depending upon the conversation he is in, one finds him crediting or criticizing the British for first introducing it. He cleverly juggles his facts and words about his praise or censure of the law and how it is implemented.
Most of the extremist groups’ leaders in Pakistan use the same logic and terminology in favor of the current version of the Blasphemy Law. They, too, claim it is there for creating harmony among people of various faiths and some go as far as to declare there is ample religious harmony in the country - all due to its Blasphemy Law.
Imran Khan claims that the law has affected only "about 800 people who’s been, sort of, caught up in the Blasphemy Law and about 500 are Muslims." Therefore, according to Imran Khan, it is not such a big deal that it requires or warrants any real reform.
He seems to have learned well to employ the tactics he has acquired from his associations with JI and other extremist groups he speaks for these days.
Imran Khan refuses to differentiate between the original Blasphemy laws that existed in the British penal code since 1860's and Pakistan inherited the same in 1947; and, the enhanced versions of the Blasphemy Laws enacted during the Gen. Zia-ul Haq and Nawaz Shareef governments of the 80s and 90s at the demand from the same religious zealots he now associates with.
Supporters of Imran Khan have been busy digging up his long-ago statements to establish he's the man for reformation - including reformation of the Blasphemy laws. They downplay his association of late with the infamous MullahCult of Pakistan.
His supporters assert - and with a very straight face - that after his victory in elections he will magically change, divorce MullahCult and save the word from the same clerics.
For them he is the knight in shining armor who will save Pakistan.
In a TV interview on India's CNBC channel 18 by Anuradha SenGupta of Beautiful People, when repeatedly pressed, Imran Khan finally showed what sort of Blasphemy law reformation he envisions. What he envisions is very limited and nothing for the government to do. In his words the reformation needed is 'in the sense that' people should be educated to not misuse the laws.
Bravo! Problem solved – in a fairy tale world.
In the real world, however, the conversation was flowing differently.
Underscoring the deaths of Salmaan Taseer and Shahbaz Bhatti, the TV host SenGupta said, "The question is... if the blasphemy law should be reformed?"
"[Why?].. Blasphemy law is not the only law that's misused," Imran Khan asserted, while responding with a question-mark look on his face.
“Salmaan Taseer [murder] did not happen because of the Blasphemy Law, neither did Shahnaz Bhatti,” Imran Khan pronounced.
Imran Khan claimed that Salman Taseer and Shahbaz Bhatti were not killed because of their efforts in reformation of the blasphemy Law. He blames war on terror is responsible for their murders.
Irritated by the non-response responses, the TV host asked again, somewhat assertively: "..But, should the [blasphemy] law be reformed, SIR?" and Khan said what was in his heart: "It should be reformed IN THE SENSE that it shouldn't be misused."
Now, that is a window into Imran Khan’s perceived world.
Imran Khan is either naive and lives in some far-off fairy-land where his 'should' or 'shouldn't' wishes just come true at the drop of the hat, or he is just another politician from the extremists’ lot in Pakistan.
But either way, he promises a very bleak outlook for Pakistan.
Here, listen to the conversation I have referred to in the above lines.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r32am1gBZ8M
-- Pakistan: This knight in shining armor is no reformer
-- Ahmadiyya Times
-- By Imran Jattala. Follow on Twitter: @IJattala
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