The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has suspended the implementation of a previous ruling that directed the federal government to form a blasphemy commission. The suspension comes in response to an intra-court appeal, putting a temporary halt to Justice Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan’s decision that had called for the immediate establishment of a blasphemy commission to examine the application of blasphemy laws in Pakistan.
The blasphemy commission order was challenged by Advocate Rao Abdul Rahim, who filed the appeal questioning both the necessity and legality of the commission. A two-judge bench, comprising Justice Khadim Hussain and Justice Azam Khan, accepted the plea and issued an interim order suspending the original directive. This means that the government is not required to initiate any steps toward forming the blasphemy commission until further court proceedings.
Justice Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan had issued the original ruling last week, following multiple petitions from individuals and human rights advocates calling for a formal body to investigate how blasphemy laws are enforced and whether due process is being followed. As per that ruling, the federal government was instructed to constitute the blasphemy commission within 30 days, with a four-month timeline for the body to complete its work. Extensions were to be granted only upon court approval.
The debate over the blasphemy commission had gained momentum after a government-backed report by the National Commission for Human Rights revealed in October last year that at least 767 individuals, the majority of whom are young men, were currently incarcerated across Pakistan awaiting trial for blasphemy-related charges. This report has intensified public and legal interest in reforming or reviewing the current laws governing such cases.
In light of the original judgment, lawyer and rights advocate Imaan Mazari had described the formation of a blasphemy commission as a long-awaited sign of hope, saying it was the first time that families affected by blasphemy cases felt their voices had been acknowledged.
However, with the Islamabad High Court’s latest suspension order, the future of the blasphemy commission remains uncertain. The legal debate surrounding the legitimacy and necessity of such a commission is now set to continue as the intra-court appeal progresses. Nonetheless, the issue remains a significant legal and human rights matter that continues to draw national attention.
