Public Reward Offered for Assassination of Religious Opponent in Pakistan: A Question of 21st-Century Fitness in the Global Village. The culture to feed political stunts wrapped in fake religious slogans to the illiterate masses is self harm.

This video reflect that why Pakistan is plague with the religious violence and terrorism. It is easy to blame the others but ignoring the self because everyone can see other's faces but a mirror is required to observe the face of the self. The following may be few reasons to understand Pakistan's lawless culture and anarchic faith system: 

• A video on X shows a man publicly offering a reward of 1 million rupees for the assassination of Engineer Muhammad Ali Mirza, a prominent and controversial religious scholar in Pakistan, highlighting a disturbing trend of religious vigilantism.
• This incident is part of a broader culture of lawlessness in Pakistan, where religious sects often resort to extrajudicial measures due to perceived grievances, as seen in the 2023 case where Pir Afzal Qadri, a deceased religious cleric, had already offered a reward for Mirza's assassination, indicating a pattern of escalation.
• The offer of a reward for assassination underscores the failure of state institutions to address hate speech and incitement effectively, as Pakistan's blasphemy laws and sections of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) like 153A and 505 are intended to punish such acts but are rarely enforced consistently.
• The backdrop of this event includes the 2020 arrest of Mirza on suspicion of hate speech, which sparked public outcry and social media campaigns, revealing deep divisions within Pakistani society over religious discourse and the role of the state in regulating it.
• Pakistan's history of religious violence, such as the 2010 attack on Ahmadiyya mosques in Lahore and the 2016 lynching of Mashal Khan over blasphemy accusations, demonstrates how such incitements can lead to real-world violence, further eroding the rule of law.
• The video's viral nature on X amplifies the reach of such threats, potentially inspiring copycat actions and contributing to a climate of fear among religious minorities and dissenting voices, as noted in the 2023 Human Rights Watch report on Pakistan's deteriorating human rights situation.
• This incident reflects a systemic issue where religious leaders exploit societal tensions for personal or sectarian gain, often with impunity, as seen in the 2017 case where a jirga ordered the killing of a teenage couple, yet faced little consequence due to cultural and legal loopholes.
• .The lack of immediate action against the man in the video, despite clear violations of laws against incitement and abetment, points to a broader challenge in Pakistan where state authorities are often reluctant to confront powerful religious figures, as highlighted by the 2022 Amnesty International report on impunity for hate crimes.
• .The cultural acceptance of such actions is partly due to the influence of tribal and religious councils (jirgas) that operate outside the legal framework, as evidenced by the 2016 amendment to the PPC aiming to curb honor killings but failing to deter such practices effectively.
• .This event is a stark reminder of the ongoing struggle between secular governance and religious extremism in Pakistan, where the state's inability to protect citizens from vigilante justice undermines its authority and perpetuates a cycle of violence, as discussed in the 2025 analysis by the International Crisis Group on Pakistan's internal security challenges.

Eng. Muhammad Ali Mirza explained what he said 

and what was the context?

The law in the statue books of Pakistan,  addressing the incitement to violence and offering rewards for assassination are primarily found in the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) and related legal provisions. Below is an overview of the relevant laws based on the available information:

1. Incitement to Violence

• Section 153A of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC): This section addresses actions that promote enmity or hatred between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, caste, or community. It states:
  Whoever "by words, either spoken or written, or by signs, or by visible representations or otherwise, promotes or incites, or attempts to promote or incite, on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, caste or community or any other ground whatsoever, disharmony or feelings of enmity, hatred or ill-will between different religious, racial, language or regional groups or castes or communities" shall be punished with imprisonment for a term that may extend to five years and a fine.
  • This law can be applied to cases where incitement to violence is based on communal or religious grounds, which is common in Pakistan due to its diverse religious and ethnic landscape.
• Application to General Incitement: While Section 153A specifically targets group-based enmity, broader incitement to violence could also fall under other provisions of the PPC, such as:
  • Section 505 (Statements Conducing to Public Mischief): This section penalizes statements, rumors, or reports intended to incite offenses against the state, public tranquility, or the armed forces. Punishment can include imprisonment for up to seven years if the incitement leads to serious public disorder.
  • Section 109 (Abetment): If someone instigates another to commit a crime (including violence), they can be charged with abetment. The punishment depends on the offense abetted, and if the act is not completed, the abettor may still face up to one-half of the punishment for the intended crime.

2. Offering a Reward for AssassinationOffering a reward for the assassination of an opponent would likely be prosecuted under laws related to abetment of murder or conspiracy to commit murder:

• Section 109 (Punishment of Abetment): If a person offers a reward to instigate the murder of another, they can be charged with abetment of murder under Section 109. If the murder is committed, the abettor faces the same punishment as the principal offender, which under Section 302 (Punishment for Murder) includes:
  • Death or life imprisonment for intentional murder (Qatl-i-amd), along with a fine.
  • If the murder is not completed, the abettor could still face punishment under Section 115 (abetment of an offense punishable with death or life imprisonment) for up to seven years imprisonment and a fine.
• Section 120B (Criminal Conspiracy): If the offer of a reward is part of a conspiracy to assassinate someone, Section 120B applies. It states that anyone who conspires to commit an offense punishable by death or imprisonment for life (like murder) can face the same punishment as the offense itself. For example:
  • If the conspiracy results in murder, the conspirators could face death or life imprisonment.
  • If the conspiracy does not result in the act, the punishment can still be up to seven years or more, depending on the severity of the planned offense.
• Section 302 (Murder): If the assassination is carried out, the person offering the reward could be charged as a co-conspirator or abettor under Section 302, which prescribes death or life imprisonment for intentional murder (Qatl-i-amd). The law allows for Qisas (retribution, i.e., death penalty) if the victim’s heirs demand it, or Diyat (blood money) if they forgive the offender.

3. Additional Context and Practical Challenges

• Blasphemy Laws and Vigilante Violence: Pakistan’s blasphemy laws (Sections 295B and 295C of the PPC) are often linked to incitement cases, as accusations of blasphemy can lead to mob violence. While these laws punish blasphemy with life imprisonment or death, they have been criticized for being misused to incite violence against individuals for personal or political reasons. For instance, inciting violence against someone accused of blasphemy could fall under Section 153A or related provisions, but enforcement is inconsistent due to social pressures and mob dynamics.
• Honor Killings and Tribal Justice: In cases where assassination is motivated by "honor" (e.g., targeting someone for perceived dishonor), the Criminal Law (Amendment) (Offences in the Name or Pretext of Honour) Act, 2016 applies. This law amended the PPC to ensure that honor killings are treated as murder under Section 302, with mandatory life imprisonment even if the victim’s family pardons the offender. This could apply if a reward is offered for an honor-based assassination.
• Enforcement Issues: Despite these legal provisions, enforcement in Pakistan faces challenges due to cultural norms, tribal councils (jirgas), and societal pressures. For example, honor killings and vigilante violence often go unpunished due to lack of convictions (only 0.5% of reported honor killing cases led to convictions in 2022). Similarly, incitement cases may not be prosecuted effectively if powerful individuals or groups are involved.
• Forgiveness Laws: Pakistan’s legal system allows the victim’s family to forgive the offender in murder cases (under Islamic provisions like Diyat), which can lead to perpetrators escaping punishment. This has been controversial, as families may be coerced into accepting compensation, especially in cases involving influential figures.

4. Examples and Precedents

• Incitement Cases: In 2023, a man in Rawalpindi was arrested for inciting violence against the Chief Justice on social media, showing that authorities can apply laws like Section 153A or Section 505 in high-profile cases.
• Assassination and Abetment: Historical cases, such as the assassination of a Lahore High Court judge in 1997 for acquitting blasphemy accused, highlight how incitement and abetment are often linked to religious or political motives. Those involved in instigating such acts could face charges under Sections 109 or 120B.
• Honor Killings: Cases like the 2017 killing of a teenage couple in Karachi, ordered by a jirga, show how tribal councils can incite or sanction assassinations. The 2016 amendment ensures such acts are prosecuted as murder, but enforcement remains weak.

5. Critical Observations

• The laws exist to address incitement to violence and offering rewards for assassination, but their application is often inconsistent due to cultural, religious, and political influences. For instance, blasphemy-related incitement is rarely prosecuted effectively because of public sentiment and fear of mob violence.
• The provision for forgiveness (Diyat) in murder cases can undermine justice, especially when powerful individuals pressure families to settle.
• Tribal councils (jirgas) and societal norms sometimes override state laws, particularly in rural areas, leading to impunity for those who incite or reward violence.
• Human rights organizations, such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have criticized Pakistan for failing to consistently enforce laws against incitement and violence, particularly in cases involving religious minorities or gender-based violence.

ConclusionPakistan’s laws, particularly Sections 153A, 109, 120B, and 302 of the PPC, provide a framework to punish incitement to violence and offering rewards for assassination, with penalties ranging from five years imprisonment to death depending on the offense. However, practical challenges like weak enforcement, cultural norms, and forgiveness provisions often limit their effectiveness. For specific cases or legal advice, consulting a criminal lawyer in Pakistan is recommended, as they can navigate the complexities of the legal system and local dynamics.