Is this the free judiciary media talks about, is there not enough bloodshed in Pakistan

What can be done if they have accepted their crime. Law is pretty clear about punishment.

Time and time again we have proved that Pakistan is not a safe place for non muslims . Even when it comes to muslims it is not a safe place for minorities. Its about time that people of Pakistan analyze and decide how to abolish such unjust and suppressive laws .

I think that this law is very harsh and perhaps also unslamic. This law, in my view, should be reconsidered.

@mustafa: so they should be sentenced to death? Where is humanity? Cruel country is the word.

What a Country called Pakistan.

@sa: Again judiciary , government or politician . No one dare to bring religion which is the main reason

Pakistan is becoming a pretty sad place for poor christians who can get the nooze around there neck for sending a text which a judge may think blasmaphamous. these are very sad times for christians who voted for Pakistan's creation in 1947

@mustafa: shame on a society that enforces barbaric laws for minorities and women but undermines laws for murderers like Mumtaz Qadri

OMG !! How can this happen in Pakistan where right from 2 year old baby everybody talks about human rights violations in kashmir how broad minded they are !!! So, finally this is the real Pakistan?

This must be the most intolerant law in the world. This reflects the general nature of suppression this country has inflicted on itself.

Unfortunately every thing and anything is concocted into blasphemy. The law itself betrays the peoples own insecurities, inferiority complex, vested interests and desire to dominate the weak and helpless.

Report says the accused was a watchman in a school. In schools across Pakistan, the watchmen are mostly illiterate persons. We understand, any illiterate persons can make a call to anyone, and talk whatever he wants to, but he cannot read or write a message on cellphone. Another thing is text messages cannot be taken as a hard evidence as anyone's cellphone can easily be misused. Confession and trial in a jail. These all put many question marks.

Does the law allow for pardon if these poor people get converted to Islam.. at least they will have few years to live before dying of sectarian violence

@mustafa: "We have ways of making you talk". Given a little time, they could make you confess to the murder of President Kennedy!

The problem is that according to some people is that even messages that preach Christianity are considered blasphemous. Honestly, how do you expect a legal framework based on such a narrow view about the world to treat minorities?

@sa: we missing honest leader,that what we are missing

So people are sent to the gallows for sending "text messages" ? Now I have seen it all.

@mustafa: Dear Mustafa, If u spend a couple of hours in a Pakistani police station you will even accept murdering people who are yet to be born. Wake up my friend.

People need education to leave the dark age.

Shame, shame, shame on this verdict. That's the easiest way to kill anyone from minorities, let the court do it for us. Shame on us muslims in Pakisatan to allows this happen.

I am Pakistani and a sunni. Why do I need to tell this is simply because I can't think of taking a life just for sending some text in which someone wrote a sentence against Islam. Why are we soooo insecure about our religion which tells tolerance to other religions. For heavens sake. If someone is disrespectful with our religious scripture, explain to him calmly that we won't do this with your Book in any situation and above all one should not put so much injustices on them that they have to do this. I am confident about my God, Holy Book. And in some other cases like movies, cartoons etc, the more you show absolutely unnecessary anger the more world will play with you. We on the other hand kill our own people in the protests. Why won't the world laugh and spit at us. We ourselves are damaging the true side of Islam by fighting, murdering, raping, exploiting our own people. Taliban are moving freely where as a simple couple just wrote something harmless is sentenced to death. Where are you going. Look at your current affairs programs, sports, religious programs, etc and check the low level at which people speak, yell, accusing, vomiting all type of inner wastes. No one knows how to discuss and speak about some issue or topic. Aren't these serious more blasphemous in the eyes of God, than someone texted something against our religion.

@mustafa: You truly represent the sickness that is becoming rampant in the Pakistani psyche. You feel confortable repressive laws, courts and judges will never touch you or your loved ones. Do not play with karma.

Typical mullah mentality that still rules Pakistan who else shall kill people administering polio drops to children ,

There is no such thing as an Islamic republic of Pakistan, but there is certainly a thing called anti Islamic republic of Pakistan. The greatest way of life, the beautiful deen of Islam has been distorted, insulted and betrayed by the very people for whom Pakistan was created... Did they not say that in India they would be persecuted because they were in a minority? Now they won't allow any minority to breath in this country created for ''freedom'' from oppression! Shall we give up all hope for a tolerant cilvilsed Pakistan?

@mustafa: Change the law.

A quick question to all my Muslims brothers and sisters (in Pakistan), do we remember how Prophet Mohammad (SA) reacted when he was stoned mercilessly in the town of Taif? He made a prayer for the people of Taif that may Allah guide them. Will Prophet (SA) agree to this judgment passed against the Christian couple? Will Prophet (SA) agree with the blasphemy law?

What a shame Pakistan has turned into -- it is yet another sad day in a series of sad days for this nation in a nose dive.

Thank God 'Santa and Banta' are not muslims or every one would have been sentenced to Death in Pakistan. By the way if you make fun of other religion while sending text, or otherwise it is not blasphemous? Am I right?

A human law to protect a divine God? My Muslim friends, have you all taken complete leave of your senses. In India there is no blasphemy law. Yet all religions are flourishing. Yes, including Islam.

This is crime against humanity and real blasphemy is that our poor minorities are suffering in this so called fort of Islam. Use of this law is more evident in Punjab and especially under PML-N. As a Muslim I am firm that this law is Un- Islamic law so must be abolished form our law but this not possible because JI minded people are sitting in Assemblies. I wonder what type of judges we have they are just there to pass these controversial decisions. God bless us.

So for this day Pakistan was created ????

@mustafa: Someone please tell me if same rule of law applies towards a Pakistani muslim if he or she shows disrespect for Religion of fellow non-muslim citizen.

@mustafa: Did they voluntarily confess or were they coerced? Either way, I don't agree with the punishment. I am sure if our Prophet (PBUH) was here, HE would not have wanted such punishment. I don't think our religion is so insecure that it should feel threatened, if anyone says anything that is contrary to our beliefs.

It's unbelievable that in the 21st century there are still countries with such laws.

The Pew map of global religious diveristy dawn published yesterday shows that in general, the islamic world is the least religiously diverse. muslims, when in majority, is most antagonistic to minority religions. And that is why only muslims can live in the islamic world. The unwritten or even explicitly written rule is in muslim majority societies non muslims are second class citizens. They have to be extremely cautious about their expressions. They should consider themselves lucky that they are even allowed to live in a muslim majority society and should be grateful about that. Total lack of tolerance... What a shameful law.

One truly respects his/her religion only if they respect other religions equally. What a shame.

@mustafa: Some people need such laws so they could use it for personal or political vendetta. Pakistan must abolish such laws for communal harmony.

@Farhan: You said it and that also intelligently and as humanly as possible. It seems common sense is becoming an endangered species in Pakistan.

I read elsewhere that sccused had lost his mobile at the said timing of so called sms

@mustafa: First, Islam does not allow such laws. Second, the decent people of Pakistan should stand up against this law.

Here's an idea: the accused should immediately join the TTP. The government will then immediately release them as 'non-combatants'. There, problem solved.

There is NO shariah blasphemy LAW applicable to NON-MUSLIMS. Read my lips "NO" shariah law. If there is, please post the book, chapter, verse, #

@mustafa: I pity you

What a quick and swift decision; unjust law only applicable to non-Muslims! I bet this shopkeeper Malik Muhammad Hussain had some sort of personal vendetta to get even with the poor watchman for something he said or did not do as so called Malik Sahib demanded. Now he can be a proud Muslim! /one who is ashamed to be a Pakistani

@kharbindersingh: This law is in books. There is no grey area. Think before you open your mouth or text something offensive. Be ready to face the consequences.

@mustafa: The injustice is that in almost any blasphemy case against Christians in Pakistan so far it was the neighbours or acquaintances who'd criticized the other religion first. Almost always, criticizing Islam or the Prophet was a reaction. There is fundamental injustice in holding others against a standard one is not willing to uphold oneself. There is also injustice in attacking first, and then excessively punishing the response.

This sort of judiciary is very stone age tribal judiciary. Doesn't pakistan have any respect that Christians all over world donated to pak when it was in danger like in 2010 floods? Should US, Europe etc declare their own jihad against oppressive and Christianity, humanity haters pak and ban any help on any request from pakistan? Answer this pak !