Section 295 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) deals with the punishment for injuring or defiling places of worship with intent to insult the religion of any class and creed. It states that:
Whoever intentionally and maliciously destroys, damages or defiles any place of worship, or any object held sacred by any class or creed, with intent to insult the religion of that class or creed, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.
The punishment for violating Section 295 is imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both. The term "injures" is not defined in the PPC, but it is generally understood to mean to cause physical harm to something. The term "defiles" is also not defined, but it is generally understood to mean to make something dirty or impure.
The intent to insult the religion of any class or creed is an essential element of the offense. This means that the person must have intended to offend the religious sensibilities of the people who worship at the place of worship or who hold the object sacred.
Section 295 has been used to prosecute people who have desecrated or damaged mosques, churches, temples, and other places of worship. It has also been used to prosecute people who have burned or defaced religious texts or objects.
The misuse of Section 295 has been a cause for concern for many people in Pakistan. Some people argue that the law is used to target religious minorities and to stifle freedom of speech. Others argue that the law is necessary to protect the religious sensibilities of the people of Pakistan.
The government of Pakistan has taken some steps to address the misuse of Section 295. In 2018, the government amended the law to make it clear that the intent to insult the religion of any class or creed is an essential element of the offense. The government has also said that it will not tolerate the misuse of the law.