February 28, 2025
By Xari Jalil
LAHORE
A Lahore sessions court has handed down a death sentence to Dr. Shahid, a 47-year-old doctor, for committing blasphemy against the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and other Islamic figures and religious rituals. The verdict, delivered by Additional Sessions Judge Syed Shahzad Muzaffar Hamdani, comes amid a reported surge in blasphemy cases in Pakistan, raising concerns among human rights organizations and religious minorities.
The case, FIR No. 1597/20, was registered at the Shahdara Town police station on September 29, 2020, based on a complaint filed by Niaz Ahmad Noori, a prayer leader and local emir of the Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP). The FIR, filed under Sections 295A and 295C of the Pakistan Penal Code, alleged that Dr. Shahid had made derogatory remarks against the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and disrespected Islamic rituals.
According to the FIR, Noori was informed that Dr. Shahid had been “mocking the Holy Prophet [PBUH] and burning religious symbols and images of religious sites” for several months. “When I met the man, he used blasphemous words in my presence,” the FIR stated, detailing the accused’s alleged disrespect towards Islamic obligations.
During the trial, the prosecution presented a series of witnesses and evidence, including audio recordings of the alleged blasphemous remarks. Niaz Ahmad Noori, the complainant, reiterated the allegations and submitted the FIR application (Ex.PA), a Samsung Galaxy 6S mobile phone (P1) belonging to Dr. Shahid’s ex-spouse, a USB drive (P2), a recovery memo (Ex.PB), and transcripts of the audio recording (P4/1-5).
According to the court proceedings, Muhammad Sahal Sultani, an eyewitness, corroborated Noori’s testimony. Rinsha Shabbir, Dr. Shahid’s former wife, testified that she had recorded the accused’s statements on her mobile phone (P1) and provided an attested copy of their divorce decree. Hafiz Waqas Mehboob testified that he transferred the audio recordings from the mobile phone to the USB drive.
Police officers Nisar Ahmad SI, Muhammad Naeem Shahzad SI, and Muhammad Sarfraz SI also testified, detailing the procedural steps taken during the investigation, including the filing of the FIR, the recovery of evidence, and the forensic analysis of the audio recordings.
The prosecution’s case hinged on the audio recordings and the forensic analysis conducted by the FIA cybercrime wing, which confirmed that the voice on the USB drive matched Dr. Shahid’s. Judge Hamdani, in his verdict, stated that the forensic analysis was “positive” and that “no probability of false implication or manipulation for any other reason could be detected.”
Accused denies charges
Meanwhile, Dr. Shahid, in his defense, denied the charges, stating, “I am a Muslim by faith and ready to take oath on Kalma.” He claimed that his former wife and the complainant had conspired to implicate him in a false case to usurp his properties. His defense counsel argued that there was an unexplained delay in filing the FIR and that no forensic analysis had been conducted on the mobile phone used to record the alleged remarks.
Judge Hamdani rejected the defense’s arguments, stating that Dr. Shahid had failed to produce any evidence of his property and that the defense’s claims were “elusive and inconclusive.” The judge also dismissed the argument that the delay in filing the FIR was significant.
“I feel no hesitation to infer that prosecution successfully proved the case/charge against the accused beyond a shadow of doubt and he (the accused) passed the blasphemous/profane remarks in respect of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and Islamic principles,” Judge Hamdani stated in the judgment.
The judge sentenced Dr. Shahid to death under Section 295-C of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) and imposed a fine of Rs500,000. In case of non-payment of the fine, Dr. Shahid will face an additional six months of imprisonment. The judge also ordered that a reference be sent to the Lahore High Court for confirmation of the death sentence and that a sentence warrant be issued to the superintendent of Lahore’s Camp Jail.
Rising intolerance
The verdict has reignited the debate surrounding Pakistan’s blasphemy laws, which carry severe penalties. According to a report by the National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR), Pakistan has seen a significant increase in blasphemy cases in recent years. The report, released in October of the previous year, highlighted that the rise in cases has disproportionately affected religious minorities, including Christians.
The NCHR investigation also revealed that Pakistan saw three times as many blasphemy cases in the first seven months of 2024 compared to all of 2023. This surge has been attributed to various factors, including the misuse of blasphemy laws by individuals and groups to settle personal scores and the increasing influence of religious extremist groups.
Human rights organizations have expressed deep concern over the increasing number of blasphemy cases and the potential for misuse of the laws. They argue that the laws are often used to target vulnerable individuals and communities and that they create a climate of fear and intolerance.
The case of Dr. Shahid is the latest in a series of high-profile blasphemy cases in Pakistan. In January, two men were sentenced to death by an Islamabad district and sessions court for “proliferating blasphemous content” online. These cases highlight the growing trend of prosecuting online blasphemy, with private vigilante groups bringing charges against individuals for allegedly committing blasphemy.
The severity of the punishments and the increasing number of cases have raised concerns about the state of freedom of expression and religious tolerance in Pakistan. The international community and human rights organizations have been urging the Pakistani government to review and amend its blasphemy laws to prevent their misuse and to protect the rights of religious minorities.