A Senate committee will debate how to prevent Pakistan’s blasphemy laws being misused, despite opposition from religious groups who support legislation that carries a mandatory death penalty for insulting Islam.

The discussions, based on recommendations from a 24-year-old report, are due to start next week.
It is thought the committee will consider a proposal to make it necessary to investigate complaints before registering a case.

It is also expected that the committee will debate whether life imprisonment was an adequate punishment, instead of the mandatory death penalty.

Many religious extremists in Pakistan consider even criticising the laws as an act of blasphemy.
Many Pakistani minorities are on death row after falsely being accused of blasphemy to settle personal scores.