Blasphemy Law Amendment Bill 2010

Proposed amendments to punishments under Pakistan Penal Code (PPC)

Section	Offence	Existing punishment	Proposed punishment
295-A	Use of derogatory remarks, etc. in respect of holy personage— punishable with	Imprisonment of either description up to ten years or with fine or with both	Imprisonment of either description up to two years or with fine or with both
295-B	Difiling of copy of Holy Quran	Imprisonment for life	Imprisonment of either description for 5years or fine or both
295-C	Use of derogatory remarks, etc. in respect of the Holy Prophet	Death or life imprisonment[1] and fine	Imprisonment of either description for10 years, or with fine, or both

Proposed addition of words to blasphemy provisions in PPC.
The additional words (maliciously, deliberately and intentionally) are meant to introduce element of intention and malice to the offences under 295-C, 298-B & 298-C.

Section	Existing provision	Proposed
295-C	Use of derogatory remark 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 Muhammad (peace be upon him) shall be punished with death, or imprisonment for life, and shall also be liable to fine.”	Use of derogatory remark etc.’ in respect of the Holy Prophet: Whoever maliciously, deliberately and intentionally, 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 Muhammad (peace be upon him) shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for 10 years, or with fine, or with both.”
298-A	298-A Use of derogatory remarks, etc. in respect of holy personages.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 any wife(Ummul Mumineen), or members of the family (Ahle-bait), of the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him), or any of the righteous Caliphs (Khulafa-e­Raashideen) or companions(Sahaaba) of the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both.	298-A Use of derogatory remarks, etc. in respect of holy personages. Whoever by words, either spoken or written, or by visible representation,maliciously, deliberately and intentionally or by any imputation, innuendo or insinuation, directly or indirectly, defiles the sacred name of any wife (Ummul Mumineen), or members of the family (Ahle-bait), of the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him), or any of the righteous Caliphs(Khulafa-e-­Raashideen) or companions (Sahaaba) of the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both.
298-B	298-B. Misuse of epithets, descriptions and titles, etc. reserved for certain holy personages or places. (1) Any person of the Qadiani group or the Lahori group (who call themselves Ahmadis or by any other name) who by words, either spoken or written, or by visible representation—	298-B. Misuse of epithets, descriptions and titles, etc.reserved for certain holy personages or places. (1) Any person of the Qadiani group or the Lahori group (who call themselves ‘Ahmadis’ or by any other name) who by words, either spoken or written, or by visible representation maliciously, deliberately and intentionally—[2]

Proposed new offences to be added to Pakistan Penal Code

Section	Offence	Proposed Punishment
203-A	False accusations under sections 295-A, 295-B, 295-C PPC	Similar/[3] Same/identical as provided under the said sections.
298-E[4]	Advocacy of religious hatred etc constituting discrimination	Imprisonment of either description up to seven years, or with fine, or with both.

Procedural amendments proposed in the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC)

Section	Existing Provision	Proposed addition/change
30.Offences not punishable with death:	Notwithstanding anything contained in Sections 28 and 29, the Provincial Government may invest any Magistrate of the First Class with power to try as a Magistrate all offences not punishable with death.	Add at the end after word ‘death’: “as well as offences falling under sections 295A, 295B and 295C of the Pakistan Penal Code.’’
193 (2)	193. Cognizance of offences by Courts of Session: (1) Except as otherwise expressly provided by this Code or by any other law for the time being in force no Court of Session shall take cognizance of any offence as a Court of original jurisdiction unless the [case has been sent to it under Section 190, sub-section [(2)].	Add after sub-section 2: “and as expressly provided for under section 190 of the Code’’
201	201. Procedure by Magistrate not competent to take cognizance of the case. (1) If the complaint has been made in writing to a Magistrate who is not competent to take cognizance of the case, he shall return the complaint for presentation to the proper Court with an endorsement to that effect. (2)       If the complaint has not been made in writing such Magistrate shall direct the complainant to the proper Court.	Add proviso: “Provided that if a complaint is made in writing to a Magistrate under sections 295A, 295B and 295C of the Pakistan Penal Code, he shall not take cognizance of it and forward it to the proper Sessions Court with an endorsement to that effect and in case the complaint has not made in writing, such Magistrate shall direct the complainant to the proper Sessions Court.”
202	202. Postponement of issue of process. (1) Any Court, on receipt of a complaint of an offence of which ‘it is’ authorized to take cognizance, or which has been sent to it under Section 190, sub-section (3), or transferred to it under Section 191 or Section 192, may, if it thinks fit, for reasons to be recorded postpone the issue of process for compelling the attendance of the person complained against, and either inquire into the case itself or direct an inquiry or investigation to be made by any justice of Peace or by a police-officer or by such other person as it thinks fit, for the purpose of ascertaining the truth or falsehood of the complaint. Provided that, save where the complaint has been made by a Court, no such direction shall be made unless the complainant has been examined on oath under the provisions of Section 200. (2) A Court of Session may, instead of directing an investigation under the provisions of sub-section (1), direct the investigation to be made by any Magistrate subordinate to it for the purpose of ascertaining the truth or falsehood- of the complaint. (3) If any inquiry or investigation under this section is made by a person not being a Magistrate, or justice of Peace or a police-officer, such person shall exercise all the powers conferred by this Code on an officer-in-charge of a police-station, except that he shall not have power to arrest without warrant. (4)        Any Court inquiring into a case under this section may, if it thinks fit, take evidence of witnesses on oath.	add subsection (5) to say, ‘’Notwithstanding anything contained in the preceding subsections any complaint made under sections section 295A, 295B and 295C of the Pakistan Penal Code shall be filed at and taken cognizance of by a Court of Sessions and tried by the High Court, whereas the procedure laid down in the preceding subsections shall be followed.’’
190(3) New provision	none	“All offences falling within sections 295A, 295B and 295C of the Pakistan Penal Code shall exclusively be taken cognizance of by the Court of Sessions and tried by the High Court.”