Pakistan Removes Death Penalty For Some Crimes For EU Trade But Christians ‘Remain At Risk’

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News

ISLAMABAD (Worthy News) – Pakistan’s Senate has voted to remove the death penalty for two crimes in what officials admit is a bid to safeguard $3 billion in annual trade benefits from the European Union, while maintaining controversial blasphemy laws that have sent dozens of Christians to death row.

The Criminal Laws Amendment Bill, which still requires approval by Pakistan’s National Assembly and the president, eliminates capital punishment for publicly stripping women and harboring hijackers.

But Pakistani leaders made clear the reforms are designed to maintain the country’s access to the EU’s Generalized Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+), which demands that the death penalty be “limited to the most serious crimes only.”

“This bill is aimed at aligning Pakistan’s laws with its international obligations under the GSP+ trade agreement with the European Union,” said Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry, according to local media.

Yet blasphemy laws remain untouched, continuing to endanger the country’s religious and faith minorities in the Islamic nation, especially its estimated 4.5 million Christians, say human rights advocates.

CHRISTIANS TARGETED

Scores of Christians and other religious minorities are currently on death row, mainly due to blasphemy accusations, according to rights activists.

At least 89 Pakistanis were extrajudicially killed over blasphemy accusations from 1947 to 2021, investigators say.

One of the most notorious cases is that of Asia Bibi, a Christian mother of five, who spent eight years on death row before being acquitted in 2018, only to be forced into hiding and then leave for Canada due to extremist backlash. Two Pakistani politicians who defended her, Punjab Governor Salman Taseer and Minorities Minister Shahbaz Bhatti, were assassinated.

“Unfortunately, blasphemy cases continue to rise, and during this year alone, at least five Christians have been charged with committing blasphemy,” said Nasir Saeed of the Centre for Legal Aid, Assistance, and Settlement (CLAAS).

“The whole burden of proof is laid on the victim to prove himself/herself innocent, and court hearings are very often adjourned,” he added. “As a result, victims of this law have to suffer several years in prison, sometimes longer than their punishment.”

Examples include Sajjad Masih, imprisoned for nine years, and Zafar Bhatti, who spent eight years behind bars before his death. Others like Sawan Maish and Imran Ghafur Masih were released only after serving eight and eleven years, respectively.

EUROPEAN PRESSURE

While the European Parliament has passed multiple resolutions urging Pakistan to repeal blasphemy laws — including a 2021 vote to review Pakistan’s GSP+ status — the European Commission has not suspended the trade privileges.

During a January visit to Pakistan, EU Special Representative for Human Rights Ambassador Olof Skoog warned that Pakistan “should not take its GSP+ status for granted,” but Pakistani officials remain firm: religious laws are not up for negotiation.

The 10th EU-Pakistan Political Dialogue in July reaffirmed commitments to deepen cooperation, even as persecution against Christians continues.

Pakistan handed down 174 death sentences in 2024 alone, up from 102 in 2023, according to Justice Project Pakistan. With 6,161 people currently on death row, minor reforms are viewed by Christians as symbolic.

For Pakistan’s Christians, the recent legal changes offer no protection, critics say.

As long as the EU prioritizes trade over religious liberty, advocates warn, minority Christians remain vulnerable to a justice system that treats their faith as a crime.

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