Minority rights

The Jhelum factory incident is another example in a long list of incidents that prove how intolerant we have become. This was not the first incident where a community has been subjected to violence on the grounds of blasphemy. Asia Bibi, Shahid Bhatti, Rimsha Masih and Salmaan Taseer are all part of a list that goes on. Our negligent and non-serious attitudes towards this issue are destabilising our social foundations. More often than not, innocent parties are set ablaze and butchered on the basis of mere allegations.
Accusing a person of blasphemy is a serious and sensitive matter. Legislators and religious scholars should formulate a way in which the blasphemy law cannot be abused. The rights of the accused must also be safeguarded in cases where they are the real victims.
Hassnain Qasim
Islamabad