The offense under section 298-A being an Bailable offense has now been categorized as a non-bailable offense, with punishment increasing from 3 years to life imprisonment
In section 298-A of the Pakistan Penal Code, the punishment against the person who disrespects the wives, family, and Companions of the Holy Prophet(P.B.U.H), is imprisonment with minimum of three years period along with a nominal penalty while this is a bailable crime. After the amendment “imprisonment for life which shall not be less than 10 years”
Parliamentarians justify the amendment made in the Constitution in following wordings.
STATEMENT Of’ OBJECTS AND REASONS
A few people are involved in blasphemy on internet and social media etc, and they
upload such pages and messages covertly. However, due to Capital Punishment in section 298c,
the ratio of people involved in blasphemy of Holy Prophet (P B.U.H) is very low. The fact may
be observed that disrespecting to the Companion of Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H) and other sacred
personalities not only promotes the terrorism and disruption in the country but it also hurts the
people from all walks of life. ln Holy Quran, Allah Almighty condemns the disruption by
saving mischief is a crime, more than a murder. In section 298-A of Pakistan Penal Code, the
punishment against the person who disrespects the wives, family and Companions of Holy
Prophet (P.B.U.H), imprisonment of with minimum three years period alongwith a nominal
penalty while this is a bailable crime. Due to this simple punishment, the criminals, despite,
punishment, commit the same crime again. Hence, due to such simple punishment the people
try of their own to punish the criminals which increase the violence.
