September 23, 2024
By Aitzaz Ibrahim
LAHORE
On Saturday, September 21, a case was registered in Tehsil Chichawatni, Sahiwal district, accusing a 25-year-old man of blasphemy on Facebook. The complaint, filed by Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Shamsul Hasan, cited Sections 295-C and 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act.
According to the FIR, the suspect had uploaded posts deemed offensive towards the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and other Islamic figures. ASI Shamsul Hasan, along with his team, discovered the content during a routine patrol. The case was registered following protests by the religious party Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), which continues to demand the suspect’s arrest.
In another incident, a case was registered against an individual in Lahore Cantt’s Badar Colony for allegedly desecrating the Holy Quran. According to reports, the suspect’s brother claimed that his sibling burned the Holy Quran in his absence. The commotion drew the attention of local residents, and a religious group subsequently protested outside the police station, demanding action. A case was filed against the accused following the protest.
Blasphemy charges have been on the rise across the country, with two high-profile cases ending in the deaths of the accused. Dr. Shahnawaz Kanhbar, charged with blasphemy, was killed in an alleged police encounter in Mirpur Khas, while Abdul Ali, also facing blasphemy accusations, was killed in Quetta Cantt Jail. These cases come after the killing of accused of blasphemy cases, which seems to have triggered a surge in blasphemy-related incidents.
It is important to note that investigative journalist Ahmad Noorani, in an in-depth report, has claimed that a group is actively filing false blasphemy charges against individuals. His report highlights that data from three of Pakistan’s 116 prisons show nearly 400 youths are currently incarcerated on blasphemy charges, with 70% of the accused being educated young men and women. Noorani’s report further alleges that this group operates with the collusion of certain officials from the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).