This section examines how Pakistan’s blasphemy laws have evolved through successive legal and political transformations, expanding in both scope and severity. Originally introduced under British colonial rule to maintain communal harmony, these provisions were radically reshaped during the Islamization drive of the 1980s and reinforced by subsequent judicial rulings. Each amendment reflects a shift in the state’s relationship with religion, from regulating interfaith tensions to enforcing ideological conformity, resulting in laws that today reach deeply into private belief, speech, and identity.
Colonial Period (British India)
The original IPC of 1860 (Sections 295–298) protected religious sites, assemblies, burial places, and religious feelings.
1860 – IPC enacted
- Sections 295–298 introduced. (Max punishment: 2 years imprisonment, or fine).
1927 – Section 295-A added
- Triggered by Rangila Rasul case (a pamphlet seen as offensive to Prophet Muhammad, but publisher acquitted since no “intent to offend” under existing laws).
- 295-A: Criminalized “deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insults to religion or religious beliefs.”
- Punishment: Up to 2 years, later increased to 10 years in Pakistan.
- This was the first law targeting speech about religion, and a direct response to Muslim agitation in colonial India.
Post-Partition Pakistan (1947–1977)
After independence, Pakistan inherited IPC provisions (renamed as Pakistan Penal Code, PPC). No major changes were made until General Zia-ul-Haq’s Islamization.
Zia-ul-Haq’s Islamization (1980s)
Between 1980–1986, five new provisions were added to “Islamize” blasphemy laws.
1980 – Section 298-A
- Criminalized derogatory remarks about holy personages of Islam (Prophet’s wives, family, caliphs, companions).
- Punishment: Up to 3 years and fine.
1982 – Section 295-B
- Criminalized defiling/desecrating the Qur’an.
- Punishment: Life imprisonment.
1984 – Section 298-B & 298-C (targeting Ahmadis)
- 298-B: Prohibited Ahmadis from using Islamic terms (mosque, azan, etc.).
- 298-C: Made it illegal for Ahmadis to “pose as Muslims” or propagate their faith.
- Punishment: 3 years and fine.
1986 – Section 295-C
- Criminalized use of derogatory remarks against Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
- Initially: Death or life imprisonment and fine.
Post-Zia Amendments
1991 – Federal Shariat Court ruling (Muhammad Ismail Qureshi case)
- Ruled that death penalty is the only punishment for blasphemy against Prophet Muhammad (295-C).
- Life imprisonment option removed.
1992 – Official amendment
- Parliament amended 295-C accordingly: mandatory death penalty (no alternative).
Recent Developments
2023 – Amendment to Section 298-A
- Expanded scope of 298-A (derogatory remarks against Prophet’s family, wives, companions, caliphs).
- Increased punishment from 3 years → life imprisonment and fine.
- This was seen as further tightening blasphemy laws, despite widespread misuse concerns.