ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) Leader of House in Senate Senator Raja Zafar Ul Haq on Thursday said blasphemy law was a sensitive issue which should be thoroughly considered before proposing any recommendations.
Speaking as special invitee in Senate Functional Cmmittee on Human Rights, he stated that the committee had not recommended substantial changes in blasphemy law but only procedural changes were under consideration.
The committee, which met here under the chairpersonship of Senator Nasreen Jalil, directed that high police officials not below the rank of Superintendent of Police (SP) should investigate, blasphemy related cases.
Senator Dr. Jehanzeb Jamaldini, said that it was better not to rely on a single police officer rather a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) comprising high rank officials should be constituted to investigate any such case.
He was especially called in the meeting to share his views on agenda of `reconsidering the amendments regarding procedural changes to check misuse of blasphemy law in Pakistan.
The committee also directed that letter should be issued to Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), cybercrime cell of Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) on associating five reportedly missing social media activists with blasphemy.
The committee also asked the Regional Police Officer (RPO) Rawalpindi, to give complete briefing on steps taken by the department for recovery of these persons, the security agencies contacted and the response they have received from them.
Earlier, declaring torture incident of minor domestic servant Tayyaba case as subjudice matter which was already under trail in apex court, so it was recommended not to be discussed at any other forum.
The committee was attended by Senators Sitara Ayaz, Dr. Jehanzeb Jamaldini, Muhammad Mohsin Khan Leghari, Mrs. Sehar Kamran, Farhat Ullah Baber and Samina Abid while Leader of House in Senate Raja Zafar Ul Haq was special invitee in the committee.
