October 11, 2024
By Xari Jalil
LAHORE
Sisters, Saima and Sonia, who had been accused of blasphemy about two months ago, have been cleared and acquitted by a Toba Tek Singh Sessions’ court. The women, who belong to a village in Tehsil Gujra, were facing charges under Sections 295-B and 497(2) of the Pakistan Penal Code and had been accused of discarding a sack containing sacred inscriptions, into an empty plot.
Both women had vehemently denied the accusations, insisting they had no involvement in the incident. Saima, a volunteer lady health worker, and Sonia, a school principal, emphasised that they had deep respect for all religious books. Their lawyer, Advocate Chaudhry Haneef Hameed Mithu says that the case had been fabricated to settle personal scores. He points out inconsistencies in the allegations, such as the late registration of the case and the absence of witnesses or complaints.
The court, led by Sessions Judge Waseem Mubarik, granted bail to the two women after reviewing the evidence – the acquittal comes as a significant victory as it is the first instance of two women being exonerated in a blasphemy case. However, the threat of mob violence remains, with the sisters and their family living in constant fear of lynching.
In 2024, five people have been sentenced to death under blasphemy charges, five have been imprisoned for life. Six of the people who were convicted were charged with alleged blasphemy in digital spaces.
Minority rights activist, Joseph Jansen expressed grave concern over the misuse of blasphemy laws in Pakistan. He cited the case of Saima and Sonia as a stark example of how these laws are abused to settle personal vendettas. Jansen said there were devastating consequences of the misuse of these laws, including mob violence, extrajudicial killings, and the death penalty.
Jansen referred to recent cases of blasphemy-related violence, such as the murder of Nazir/Lazar Masih in Sargodha, the extrajudicial killing of a blasphemy suspect in Quetta, and the tragic killing of Dr. Shahnawaz Kanbar in Umerkot District. In the latter case, Dr. Kanbar was accused of blasphemy, fled from a mob, and was later killed in police custody. Even his body was subsequently set on fire by a mob during his family’s attempt to bury him.
Jansen urged Pakistan to fully investigate and punish those responsible for these extrajudicial killings and false accusations. He stressed the need to end mob justice and the misuse of blasphemy laws, calling for the protection of citizens and the upholding of the rule of law.
The case of Saima and Sonia underscores the urgent need for judicial reforms and enhanced protection for individuals falsely accused under these laws.
In September, Shagufta Kiran, a Christian mother of four children, was given a death sentence after the judge convicted her for blasphemy The 40-year-old was convicted under Section 295 A, B and C, Section 298, and Section 11 of the PECA laws, and Additional Sessions Judge, Islamabad, Muhammad Afzal Majoka also sentenced Kiran to a fine of Rs300,000 after a three-year long trial in an Islamabad Sessions’ Court.
In a statement by Amnesty International (South Asia), the country’s blasphemy laws are often used against religious minorities and vulnerable individuals who are targeted by false accusations – mostly driven by ulterior motives including personal and professional disputes.
‘Once a person is accused, they are entrapped in a system that offers few protections, presumes guilt, and fails to safeguard against mob violence. Violence now materialises more frequently as blasphemy-accused individuals are being killed before they are even given a fair trial. The Pakistani authorities must immediately repeal blasphemy laws which have since long perpetuated discrimination and violence,’ the statement said.