Islamic Studies. Blasphemy and death. Scores of people have been lynched for alleged acts of blasphemy in Pakistan since the Islamisation of the legal system in the 1980s. Many more have been imprisoned. No blasphemer has yet been executed, though the penal code makes capital punishment mandatory for insults aimed directly against the Prophet Muhammed. The absence of executions seems to reflect government fears of provoking new sectarian conflict, given that most blasphemy cases are brought by Muslims against other Muslims. Further information.
