Criminalisation of Criticism on Armed Forces, Imran Khan comments about Rape, and Blasphemy Campaing against Amar Jaleel

In this Friday Focus episode, three Pakistani women Gul Bukhari, Gulalai Ismail and Annie Zaman discussed three issues.

1. Criminalisation of Criticism on Armed Forces
ISLAMABAD: A new amendment bill passed Wednesday by the National Assembly Standing Committee on Interior mandates that anyone who criticises the Pakistani forces may now land in prison for two years, along with a fine worth Rs500,000 — or both. The new criminal law amendment bill was proposed and submitted by PTI lawmaker Amjad Ali Khan. The final vote was cast by Raja Khurram Shahzad Nawaz, who also belongs to the ruling party. Nawaz, the chairperson of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Interior, broke the 5-5 vote tie by voting in favour of the proposed bill, which was consequently passed with a majority. During deliberations on the proposed legislation, leaders of the PPP and PML-N had argued against it. Syed Agha Rafiullah of the PPP, as well as the PML-N's Marriyum Aurangzeb and Chaudhry Nadeem Abbas Rebaira, said it would be used against freedom of expression in the country. They further argued that the government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had voted against the bill even though the remaining three provinces were yet to do so. "We stand strong with our institutions. However, criticism in good faith should not be misunderstood. Why are they being made sacred cows," they said. Pakistan's armed forces and their personnel would be free from any deliberate ridicule, insult, and defamation under the criminal law amendment bill. Those who do so would be punishable under Section 500A of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), with punishment including jail time of two years, a fine of up to Rs500,000 or both. Critics of the Pakistani armed forces would face trial in a civil court, according to the criminal law amendment bill. (The News)

2. Imran Khan comments about Rape
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — An outcry has erupted in Pakistan after Prime Minister Imran Khan blamed a rise in rape cases on how women dressed, remarks that activists denounced as perpetuating a culture of victim blaming. Mr. Khan made the comments on a live television show this week when asked what the government was doing to curb an increase in sexual violence against women and children. Mr. Khan acknowledged the seriousness of the problem and pointed to the country’s strict laws against rape. But, he said, women had to do their part. “What is the concept of purdah?” he said, using a term that refers to the practice of seclusion, veiling or concealing dress for women in some South Asian communities. “It is to stop temptation. Not every man has willpower. If you keep on increasing vulgarity, it will have consequences.”

The uproar was swift. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, an independent group, demanded that Mr. Khan apologize for his remarks, which it called “unacceptable behavior on the part of a public leader.” “Not only does this betray a baffling ignorance of where, why, and how rape occurs, but it also lays the blame on rape survivors,” the group said.

3. Blasphemy Campaing against Amar Jaleel