A sessions court in Lahore on Saturday sentenced four men to death in the Lahore blasphemy case registered in 2022 by the then cybercrime wing of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).
Additional District and Sessions Judge Nusrat Ali Siddiqui Malik convicted the four men, ruling that the prosecution had proved the charges beyond reasonable doubt.
Each convict received the death penalty and a Rs500,000 fine under Section 295-C of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC). They were also given life imprisonment under Section 295-B, ten years’ rigorous imprisonment and a Rs100,000 fine under Section 295-A, three years’ imprisonment and a Rs100,000 fine under Section 298-A, and seven years’ rigorous imprisonment with a Rs100,000 fine under Section 11 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca), 2016.
The judge observed that the forensic evidence, despite procedural defects, was enough to convict the accused. However, all four were acquitted of conspiracy and common intention charges under Sections 120-B and 34 of the PPC, as the evidence showed each had acted separately.
The court ordered the sentences to run concurrently, except for those tied to non-payment of fines. Time already spent in custody will be deducted from the sentences.
Death sentences need High Court confirmation
The death sentences are not final. Under the law, they are subject to confirmation by the Lahore High Court, to which a reference will be sent. The convicts may also file appeals within 30 days.
This two-step safeguard means a higher court will review the evidence and the trial record before any sentence is carried out. Until the High Court confirms the reference and decides any appeals, the verdict remains open to challenge.
How the Lahore blasphemy case was built
According to the FIR, registered on May 24, 2022, on a citizen’s complaint, objectionable material was circulated through several mobile numbers in a WhatsApp group presented as a Quranic education group.
The FIA said a technical report traced one of the numbers to a suspect. A raid on his Lahore residence on May 22, 2022, led to the seizure of a laptop and two mobile phones. Their examination allegedly revealed content derogatory to the Holy Quran and Islamic sacred personages being shared through Facebook and WhatsApp groups.
The prosecution relied heavily on this digital forensic evidence. The judge’s note about “procedural defects” in the forensics, while still finding them sufficient, is likely to be a central point if the case goes to the High Court.
What happens next
A reference will go to the Lahore High Court for confirmation of the death sentences. The convicts have 30 days to appeal. The High Court will then examine whether the evidence, including the forensic material, was properly collected and whether the trial court’s reasoning holds.
Frequently asked questions
What sentence did the court give?
Death and a Rs500,000 fine under Section 295-C, plus life imprisonment under 295-B and further prison terms and fines under Sections 295-A, 298-A and Peca’s Section 11.
Are the death sentences final?
No. They must be confirmed by the Lahore High Court, and the convicts can appeal within 30 days.
When was the case registered?
The FIR was registered on May 24, 2022, by the FIA’s then cybercrime wing, after a raid on May 22 seized a laptop and two mobile phones.
Source: Dawn
