Pakistan's national assembly has passed a bill aimed at reducing abuse of harsh blasphemy laws that have been the subject of fierce criticism from minorities and human rights groups.
The amendment to the law requires senior police officials investigate blasphemy allegations for substance before criminal charges are filed.
Currently, anyone accused of blasphemy is immediately arrested and charged, after which an investigation occurs, often by a junior officer.
One of the major complaints about the law is it is often misused to settle personal vendettas and arguments over property or money, particularly against the minority Christian community.
Blasphemy in this Islamic nation of 150 million people carries a maximum sentence of the death penalty, although no-one has ever been executed for the crime.
"This is a procedural change that is very important and this government will do it," Parliamentary Affairs Minister Sher Afgan Niazi said.
"This will definitely reduce abuse (of the law)."
Human Rights Commission of Pakistan Chairman Tahir Muhammad Khan said the amendment was welcome, but inadequate.
"The procedural change will reduce misuse but the misuse will not stop," Khan said.
The amendment to the law must still pass the Senate, where the government also has a majority.
The Islamist Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) coalition, which has a sizeable presence in both houses of parliament, has opposed any changes to the law.
"We believe the procedure that exists is fine. The law applies equally to Muslims and non-Muslims," MMA deputy parliamentary leader Liaqat Baloch said.