NA enhances punishment for blasphemers upto life.

ISLAMABAD -- The National Assembly yesterday approved legislation for increasing punishment for those defaming Ummahatul Momineen, Ahle Bait, Khulfa: e: Rashideen and Sahaba: e: Kiram upto life imprisonment. The house passed a private member bill, moved by Jamaat: e: Islami (JI) parliamentarian Maulana Abdul Akbar Chitrali, passed unanimously on a private member day. The bill, after smooth legislation from the National Assembly, that provides for amendment in certain sections of Pakistan Penal Code [PPC], will be referred to upper house for legislation on it. The punishment for a person proven guilty of disrespecting Ummahatul Momineen, Ahle Bait, Khulfae: Rashideen and Sahaba: e: Kiram and using derogatory remarks for them would be 10 years in prison which may be extended to life imprisonment depending on seriousness of the crime, according to the amendments in the law. Member of religio: political party [Jamaat: e: Islami] Maulana Abdul Akbar Chitrali appreciated the house for increasing the punishment. He said the punishment for disrespecting these sacred personalities was almost nil before the legislation on it.

Deputy Speaker Zahid Akram Durrani...