<h1>Punjab drafts legislation for harsher punishments including capital punishment for religious scripture sacrilege</h1> Punjab's Finance Minister announced that legal experts are being consulted to draft legislation imposing harsher punishments for acts of sacrilege against religious scriptures. The government is not rushing the process and will seek opinions from the legal remembrancer and Advocate General's office to avoid subsequent amendments. The Chief Minister emphasized seriousness about addressing sacrilege issues, noting existing legal loopholes that allow offenders to escape punishment. Capital punishment may be included in the proposed law. Previous attempts by earlier governments in 2016 and 2018 to enact similar legislation were unsuccessful, with bills either returned by the Centre or not receiving presidential assent.