Every single incident that justifies the misuse of blasphemy laws in this country and dampens the spirits of those who have fought against their misuse also rekindles a resolve to do something about them.

The latest in the series of such incidents is the Lahore High Court verdict upholding the death sentence awarded to Asia Bibi. The sense of helplessness at the collective failure of state and society to save a hapless woman from a marginalised community, a mother of five, is acute.

Asia Bibi’s is no ordinary case. A poor woman’s tale of horror has turned into one of the most high profile cases of blasphemy, a case that cost Governor Salmaan Taseer and Minister Shahbaz Bhatti their lives. Besides making life more difficult for Asia Bibi, these foul murders changed the context for the worse -- from that of intolerance to fear.

The latest gruesome acts in recent months were the murder of lawyer Rashid Rehman who was defending a blasphemy accused in Multan jail and an attack on an old man in Adiala Jail by one of the jail’s security guards. It is in this context of fear that people are seeing the decision of the Lahore High Court; it is seen both as a consequence of the fearful atmosphere that operates and one that will lead to further misuse and abuse of this law.

There is, indeed, a shared desire in the civil society to prevent a misuse of this law, at least in future. As a first step, the police are trained to ascertain facts and delay registering a case. In some cases, they have been successful in doing that. Once the case is registered, things take a different turn. In the case of Asia Bibi, a vested interest developed around keeping the case alive. Some people think this has aggravated her case and a whole bunch of lawyers has been unable to plead her case the way it should have been.

It also appears that there are economic interests at work on both sides. But the plight of those who have been charged and are languishing in jails, and the potential of misuse of the law in future warrant that an early solution be sought. This cannot be done without the state taking charge and seeking a solution.

To start with, it involves building a consensus in society that here is a problem that needs solution. It needs to raise this question first that why are the blasphemy laws in this country a problem for its own people and a blemish for the country? Once the state takes ownership of this issue, the fear factor shall wither away and there is a chance the problem will be understood. Let Asia Bibi’s be a test case.