According to lawmakers and observers alike, the legislation is a calculated response to the European Union’s Generalized Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+), which grants Pakistan tariff-free access to EU markets.

A recent decision by Pakistan’s Senate to abolish the death penalty for two crimes has prompted a wave of calls from Christian activists and human rights advocates to extend the reform to other offenses – most notably blasphemy. The move, widely seen as a strategic attempt to retain lucrative European trade benefits, has left critics questioning the government’s commitment to genuine human rights reform.

On July 18, Pakistan’s upper house approved the Criminal Laws (Amendment) Bill, replacing capital punishment with life imprisonment and financial penalties for public spoliation of a woman and aiding the hijacking of an airplane or public vehicle. The bill still requires passage by the National Assembly and presidential assent.

According to lawmakers and observers alike, the legislation is a calculated response to the European Union’s Generalized Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+), which grants Pakistan tariff-free access to EU markets in exchange for adherence to 27 international conventions on human rights, labour laws, and governance. These preferential trade benefits are worth approximately $3 billion annually, accounting for nearly two-thirds of Pakistan’s exports to Europe.

“The bill is aimed at aligning Pakistan’s laws with its international obligations under the GSP+ trade agreement with the European Union,” said Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry, confirming the economic motivations behind the reform.

Reform Sparks Push for Broader Justice

While the removal of the death penalty for two relatively obscure crimes was welcomed by international rights groups, many activists argue the government’s action is insufficient.

Blasphemy laws in Pakistan have long been criticized for enabling religious persecution. They are frequently used to settle personal disputes or target religious minorities. At least 34 members of religious minority groups, including Christians, are currently on death row in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces, according to lawyer and researcher Sarmad Ali.

“These laws have disproportionately affected minorities and are often abused through false accusations,” Chaudhry said. His position is echoed by Peter Jacob, director of the Center for Social Justice, who said the Senate’s move should be the beginning of a deeper conversation.

“A more comprehensive legal reform is needed to limit – and eventually abolish – the death penalty,” Jacob said. “This should open a broader debate on capital punishment and respect for life.”

Government’s Red Line on Blasphemy

Despite the growing chorus of demands, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s government has shown no signs of willingness to revise Pakistan’s blasphemy laws. These laws are deeply ingrained in the country’s Islamic legal framework and remain politically untouchable.

Former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s government had taken a similarly hard stance. In response to European Parliament resolutions in 2021, it asserted that Pakistan’s agreements with the EU “did not include any condition concerning religion” and that there would be “no compromise on the country’s blasphemy law.”

The European Union’s Special Representative for Human Rights, Ambassador Olof Skoog, during a visit to Islamabad earlier this year, explicitly highlighted concerns over Pakistan’s blasphemy laws, along with issues surrounding freedom of religion, forced conversions, media independence, and enforced disappearances.

Rising Numbers, Mounting Concerns

According to the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, the number of death sentences issued by Pakistani courts rose sharply from 102 in 2023 to 174 in 2024. More than 6,000 inmates currently await execution, placing Pakistan among the countries with the largest death row populations in the world.

The application of the blasphemy law continues to stir alarm. Nasir Saeed, of the Centre for Legal Aid, Assistance and Settlement, said at least five Christians have been charged with blasphemy in 2025 alone.

“The burden of proof lies entirely on the accused, and court hearings are often indefinitely delayed,” Saeed noted. “This leads to victims spending years in jail, sometimes beyond the maximum penalty itself.”

Notable cases like that of Asia Bibi, a Christian woman acquitted in 2018 after spending eight years on death row for allegedly insulting the Prophet Muhammad, underscore the dangers. Her case sparked international outrage and led to the assassination of two public officials – governor Salman Taseer and minorities minister Shahbaz Bhatti  –  who had defended her innocence.

Even after her acquittal, extremist protests forced Bibi and her family into hiding. They ultimately fled to Canada, where they received asylum.

Europe’s Dilemma

Despite the EU’s repeated warnings, its response to Pakistan’s selective reforms has been criticized as diplomatically cautious and largely ineffective. The European Parliament’s 2021 resolution, which called for an immediate review of Pakistan’s GSP+ status over the misuse of blasphemy laws, passed with 678 votes, but was not acted upon by the European Commission.

The most recent EU-Pakistan Political Dialogue, held in Brussels in July 2025, resulted in both sides reaffirming cooperation – despite growing international scrutiny.

“The EU is facing a credibility test,” said one EU-based analyst. “It wants to promote human rights but also fears destabilizing an important trading partner and nuclear power.”

The Path Ahead

As Pakistan moves forward with narrowly tailored legal reforms, pressure is building both at home and abroad for a broader reconsideration of the country’s approach to capital punishment and religious freedom.

Atta ur Rehman, deputy director of the National Commission for Justice and Peace (NCJP), reiterated the Church’s stance against the death penalty. “The death penalty is against the sanctity of life,” he said. “We need comprehensive reforms to address the harsh realities of Pakistan’s criminal justice system.”

With the GSP+ scheme extended until 2027, and mid-term reviews expected in 2026, Pakistan’s government may face new challenges in balancing economic interests with its domestic religious and political constraints.

Until then, critics argue, the recent amendment remains more symbolic than substantive.

“For Pakistan’s vulnerable religious minorities,” said Chaudhry, “true justice will only come when the laws used to persecute them are fundamentally changed — not just selectively softened for trade deals.”