March 18, 2026
By Aitzaz Ibrahim
LAHORE
A man has been booked under blasphemy charges in Sahiwal after he was accused of desecrating a copy of the Holy Quran in a village within the jurisdiction of Dera Raheem police station, officials said on Tuesday.
The First Information Report (FIR) was registered on the complaint of Station House Officer (SHO) Subha Sadiq under Section 295-B of the Pakistan Penal Code, which relates to wilful desecration of the Holy Quran. The accused is a 30-year-old labourer.
According to First Information Report (FIR), the incident was reported through a call made to the emergency helpline, informing authorities about an act of desecration in village 108/9-L. A police team led by SHO Subha Sadiq immediately responded and reached the location, where a crowd had already gathered.
Police officials said the situation was brought under control upon their arrival, and initial information was collected from individuals present at the scene. Statements later incorporated into the FIR indicate that the accused entered a local mosque around the time of Zuhr prayers and took a copy of the Holy Quran from there.
Witnesses, including the mosque’s prayer leader, told police that the suspect carried the copy to his residence. It was further alleged that he threw it into a nearby sewage drain and began striking it with stones. Villagers who witnessed the incident intervened, overpowered the suspect and informed the police.
Residents also retrieved the Holy Quran from the drain. According to police records, the copy was washed and cleaned by locals before being handed over to authorities. The recovered copy has been taken into custody and preserved as evidence for the investigation.
The accused was taken into custody from the scene and later produced before a local court. Area Magistrate Judge Akbar Ali ordered his judicial remand, after which he was shifted to Sahiwal Central Prison.
Speaking to Voicepk.net, SHO Subha Sadiq said the suspect is believed to be addicted to drugs. He added that during initial questioning, the accused claimed he was not fully conscious at the time of the incident.
“The suspect has stated that he feels as if he is under the influence of supernatural forces and that such elements compel him to act in this manner,” the SHO said, adding that this claim would be examined as part of the ongoing investigation.
Police said no further disturbance was reported following the incident and that timely intervention helped prevent any escalation. Authorities are continuing to gather evidence and record statements from witnesses to complete the investigation.A man has been booked under blasphemy charges in Sahiwal after he was accused of desecrating a copy of the Holy Quran in a village within the jurisdiction of Dera Raheem police station, officials said on Tuesday.
The First Information Report (FIR) was registered on the complaint of Station House Officer (SHO) Subha Sadiq under Section 295-B of the Pakistan Penal Code, which relates to wilful desecration of the Holy Quran. The accused is a 30-year-old labourer.
According to First Information Report (FIR), the incident was reported through a call made to the emergency helpline, informing authorities about an act of desecration in village 108/9-L. A police team led by SHO Subha Sadiq immediately responded and reached the location, where a crowd had already gathered.
Police officials said the situation was brought under control upon their arrival, and initial information was collected from individuals present at the scene. Statements later incorporated into the FIR indicate that the accused entered a local mosque around the time of Zuhr prayers and took a copy of the Holy Quran from there.
Witnesses, including the mosque’s prayer leader, told police that the suspect carried the copy to his residence. It was further alleged that he threw it into a nearby sewage drain and began striking it with stones. Villagers who witnessed the incident intervened, overpowered the suspect and informed the police.
Residents also retrieved the Holy Quran from the drain. According to police records, the copy was washed and cleaned by locals before being handed over to authorities. The recovered copy has been taken into custody and preserved as evidence for the investigation.
The accused was taken into custody from the scene and later produced before a local court. Area Magistrate Judge Akbar Ali ordered his judicial remand, after which he was shifted to Sahiwal Central Prison.
Speaking to Voicepk.net, SHO Subha Sadiq said the suspect is believed to be addicted to drugs. He added that during initial questioning, the accused claimed he was not fully conscious at the time of the incident.
“The suspect has stated that he feels as if he is under the influence of supernatural forces and that such elements compel him to act in this manner,” the SHO said, adding that this claim would be examined as part of the ongoing investigation.
Police said no further disturbance was reported following the incident and that timely intervention helped prevent any escalation. Authorities are continuing to gather evidence and record statements from witnesses to complete the investigation.