Islamabad: The President has returned the bill regarding blasphemy against the Companions and Mothers of Believers, objecting to amendments in the Code of Criminal Procedure.
President Dr. Arif Alvi has objected to Section 298A of the Criminal Procedure Code (Amendment) Bill 2023, which was among 13 bills returned by the President.
The President has objected to two out of the three amendments in the bill. President Arif Alvi has objected to making blasphemy against Companions a non-bailable offense and giving police powers of arrest without a warrant.
According to available documents, the President has not objected to enhancing the punishment for blasphemy against Companions from 3 years to 10 years. In his objections to the bill, President Arif Alvi cited Articles 8, 9, 10, 10A, and 14 of the Constitution, objecting that the proposed bill makes the offense non-bailable and gives police powers of arrest without warrant. He said the powers given in the bill are beyond the authority of the police.
