Blasphemy: Chapter 10 - Press Conference

Outside the Rectory Joseph, David and Michael were waiting for Paul. They hailed a taxi and asked the driver to take them to the Sherman Hotel. As the taxi moved away from the curb into the flow of traffic, Paul turned and said to Joseph, "The Bishop will support us."

Joseph smiled tightly. "What did you have to promise him?"

"To keep you out of trouble," Paul replied, his voice raised and assertive, imitating the Bishop's. Michael and David both laughed, but Joseph kept his tight smile.

"He was warmer than I expected," Paul added, as he gazed at the cars and buses on the busy street.

"You mean he's thawed a bit," Joseph retorted. Joseph had disliked the Bishop intensely for years. When he was a student at St. Mary's School, the Bishop had visited Joseph's class. The teacher had asked Joseph to read the morning prayer, because she knew that he read well and expressively. But the Bishop told Joseph in front of the class that he should have read the prayer with more conviction. Joseph had felt humiliated and never again went to Mass when the Bishop was presiding.

Paul wondered what his life would have been like if he'd had a similar experience as a young man. Probably he wouldn't have become a priest. And he wouldn't be about to file a petition against the blasphemy law.

Javed had chosen the Sherman Hotel for the press conference because it was central and would serve tea and cakes afterwards. The food alone would bring out some of the journalists. As Paul entered the lobby, he cringed at the opulence of the furnishings. The floor was covered with a rich burgundy carpet. Glass chandeliers, each with a dozen or more globes, hung from the ceiling. The personnel behind the registration desk were wearing smart, polyester uniforms, and the doorman who had followed them inside had just taken off his top hat. They are playing at being British, Paul thought to himself. How sad that is.

Javed was waiting in the Archibald room, named after one of the leading families of Karachi during the time of the colonial administration. William Archibald had started the carpet industry in Pakistan. He had, of course, made a fortune. Most likely, the floors of the hotel were carpeted with rugs from his firm, which was managed today as a joint venture by its English and Pakistani owners. The firm claimed not to use any child labor, but Paul knew of reports that it maintained hundreds of small carpet weaving facilities in the rural areas. Children were sold by their parents to the owners of the carpet factories as bonded labor. They worked 12 or 14 hours a day, in cramped and poorly lit rooms, and were paid only a few Rupees to weave the carpets that their owners sold for hundreds of Pounds in England.

Upon entering the Archibald room, Paul saw a few cameras turn toward him. He struggled to smile without squinting, despite the bright light directed into his face, but he couldn't keep from blinking rapidly.

Paul was relieved when Javed easily pushed through the crowd of reporters and grabbed him by the hand. "Greetings, Rev. Gill. Come on up to the lectern. I'll say a few words first about the petition, and then the reporters will want to ask you some questions." Paul was delighted that Javed was speaking first, because that would give him some time to get hold of his feelings. He was surprised, however, to hear Javed use his surname. Hardly anyone called him Rev. Gill. Paul followed in the wake of Javed, and they plowed quickly through the throng of newsmen to the front of the room. When Javed moved up to the lectern, Paul stepped back slightly.

"As-salàamu Alàykum. Good morning, gentlemen. Thank you for coming to our press conference." He paused for a moment, until the noise in the room had completely subsided. "Thank you."

"As you know, there have been a number of unwarranted complaints filed against Pakistani citizens under Section 295 (c) of the Penal Code. These have been filed not only against Christians and Ahmadis, but also against Muslims. You may also recall that the report of the Law and Justice Committee of the Senate, which was prepared at the time the law was introduced in Parliament, noted that the statute was vague and, therefore, might easily be abused."

Javed paused again, clearing his throat. "Members of the Human Rights Commission have decided that it would be best for all Pakistani citizens, if the Supreme Court ruled on the constitutionality of the law. We believe it is unconstitutional, as it presently stands, for the reasons set forth in the petition to the Court. You have each been given a summary of the petition's arguments, so I won't dwell on them unless you have questions. Mr. Hassan and I will be the attorneys of record. Rev. Gill is the petitioner." Javed stepped back and motioned to Paul, who moved slowly to the microphone.

Paul felt small, taking Javed's place, and far less confident than Javed had seemed. He didn't want to say much. Their strategy was to focus on the legal arguments, not on him as a Christian petitioner. But if he hadn't come to the press conference, the press would have come after him. That would have meant more press attention, so it was best to face the press with the lawyers.

Looking into the bright lights, Paul realized that he could hardly see the faces of the reporters and cameramen. In some ways that made it easier. He didn't have to be concerned with their feelings or their individual personalities. He could simply concentrate on speaking to the wider audience, the people of Pakistan.

"Thank you for taking your time to attend this press conference. I know you all are very busy, so I appreciate your presence here. Many Pakistani citizens believe that Section 295 (c) of the Penal Code is unconstitutionally vague and that a Supreme Court ruling to that effect would benefit all Pakistanis. I hope that the Supreme Court will agree. My petition also asks the Court for an immediate injunction against prosecution under Section 295 (c) until its constitutionality is determined. Under the protection of this injunction public hearings will be sponsored to offer Pakistani citizens a chance to discuss human rights enforcement in our country and, in particular, the protection of the rights of the religious minorities. Thank you."

Several questions came all at once. "Just a minute, please," Paul heard himself saying. "One at a time. Yes?" He pointed to an older man standing to his right.

"Fr. Gill," the reporter said. The use of the title "Father" probably meant the man was a Catholic. "Aren't you attacking Islam by petitioning against the blasphemy law?"

Paul took a deep breath and paused to allow a break between the question and his answer. He thought that might make it more likely that the question would not be included in the television report. "Our petition challenges only the constitutionality of Section 295 (c) of the Penal Code." He had to keep in mind that anything he said about Islam might be misconstrued. He wanted to try to avoid any direct reference, if possible.

"Are you opposed to any blasphemy law or just to this law?" Paul couldn't see who had asked the question, so he just looked out into the bright lights.

"The petition refers only to Section 295 (c) of the Penal Code. It does not propose any restatement of the statute."

"Aren't you afraid that this petition will incite communal unrest in Pakistan?" The voice asking this question was almost taunting.

"Muslims also support this petition," Paul replied calmly. "If the news reports explain that our petition challenges only the constitutionality of the present statute, I'm sure the citizens of Pakistan will be supportive."

"Rev. Gill, we appreciate that you want to be positive about this petition, but let's be realistic." That might have been said with understanding, but the voice was cynical and harsh. "A number of groups in Pakistan will be very opposed to any tampering with the blasphemy law by the Court. You know that. Won't this petition stir up support for the blasphemy law among these groups, further dividing the Pakistani people?"

Paul had to admit the possibility of conflict. He had to be honest in order to win the confidence of the reporters, so they would give their stories as positive a slant as their editors would tolerate. He knew it, and they knew it. Moreover, they knew he knew it.

"Certainly some Pakistanis might misunderstand our petition as an attack on the idea of a blasphemy law, rather than as an argument against the constitutionality of the present statute. Such a misunderstanding could lead to anger and protest, but we hope that won't happen. To avoid such a misunderstanding, we are planning public discussions to allow various concerns with respect to the law to be expressed and debated."

"Wouldn't it have been better if a Muslim had filed this petition, rather than a Christian?" The question came from a young man with glasses, standing to Paul's left. He had a very high pitched voice and peered at Paul through his dark-rimmed glasses with an accusing expression.

"I'm very happy that Mr. Javed and Mr. Hassan are representing me in filing this petition, and both are Muslims. Perhaps you have questions for them. Thank you for your time."

Paul stepped back from the lectern, so that Javed could take his place. He listened as the reporters asked more technical questions about sections of the constitution and the arguments raised in the petition. Might this petition arouse the Muslim extremists? Paul hoped they would ignore it, until the Court gave its decision. If the petition were denied, the Christian community would still have had the benefit of demonstrating support against the unjust enforcement of the blasphemy law. If the petition was affirmed, however, the Muslims extremists would have an uphill struggle in pushing a new law through the Parliament. Even if they succeeded, the new law would most likely be more carefully drawn than the present one to take into account the reasoning of the Court's decision.

Javed was now explaining that leaders of many of the religious parties had agreed to take part in the public seminars that were being planned. These seminars were crucial, Paul thought. When he had first asked the Bishop of the Church of Pakistan about discussing the blasphemy law with Muslim leaders, Rev. Gregory had said it was too dangerous, because any comment about Islam or Christianity might be construed as an attack on the Prophet. With the injunction in place, however, this dialogue could begin. It would model of the kind of democratic society that Pakistan might become.

The bright lights had been switched off now, and the reporters were helping themselves to the tea and cakes. Javed was still answering questions at the lectern, as Paul made his way toward Samuel, who had been sitting at the back of the room. "Thank you for coming, Samuel. I very much appreciate your support."

"You spoke well, Paul. You handled the reporters as though you do this all the time."

"Hardly, but I'd given it some thought. I didn't want to say anything that might be taken to mean I was being critical of Islam."

"Well, they'll write what they want. But you didn't make any mistakes. It was a good start."

Joseph had joined them. He was smiling now, happy that the struggle had officially begun. Neither David nor Michael had come into the hotel, because they didn't want to be seen by the reporters, given their difficulties with the law.

"Are you having any trouble with Joseph?" Samuel asked, putting his arm around the broad shoulders of the young man.

"No, he's great. He takes care of all the details for me, and we even have good talks at times. I'm glad to have his company." It was true. Paul was beginning to like Joseph. And he was grateful to have his young bodyguards with him all the time.

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