h. Desecration of Ahmaddiya Places of Worship: 28 The National Human Rights
Commission took suo motu notice of desecration of Ahmadi graves in Punjab. The
Chairperson wrote a letter to the provincial Chief Secretary requiring immediate
government action to protect Ahmaddiya graves from being desecrated highlighting
the need to condemn such actions as they are sheer violations of human rights. The
NCHR required a report to be shared by the Chief Secretary on actions undertaken
pursuant to these heinous crimes. This led to registration of cases against 23
nominated and 15 unknown accused. NCHR has also written a Report on the
violence perpetrated against the Ahmadiyya community which is publicly available
on its website.
i. NCHR has been repeatedly visiting jails and meeting with persons accused and
undertrial in cases of blasphemy under Sec 295 to 298 C of the Pakistan Penal
Code.29 As of June 21st, 2024, there are approximately 705 persons in various jails
of Pakistan booked under Blasphemy laws. Of these, 370 persons have been
booked by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) under Prevention of Electronic Act
(PECA) laws and these include a majority of persons under the ages of 30 years.
NCHR has expressed deep concern about the upholding of due process, allegations
of entrapment and the arrest and investigation of individuals accused of blasphemy.
It has written to the government in this regard. Since the passing of the controversial
PECA laws and its Rules and involvement of the FIA, the registration of cases under
Blasphemy laws has gone up exponentially
j. Number of persons incarcerated for blasphemy by year is as under; (these numbers
have been collected by NCHR from the various prisons of Pakistan)
2020
11
2021
9
2022
64
2023
213
2024 (June 21st)
705
k. Note that the rise in persons incarcerated for blasphemy has gone by 6300% over
last three and a half years.
Thus, the NCHR in its capacity as Pakistan’s primary NHRI is spearheading efforts to
protect minority communities and advise the Government to improve actions within the
28
“NCHR: Situational Report – Monitoring the plight of the Ahmaddiya Community,” available at: https://nchr.gov.pk/wpcontent/uploads/2024/04/Ahmadiya-Report.pdf
29 “Over 200 people in jail in blasphemy cases throughout country, Senate body told,” available at:
https://www.dawn.com/news/1780961
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