Rawalpindi: The Rawalpindi Bench of the Lahore High Court has acquitted a man previously sentenced to death for blasphemy, citing insufficient evidence and contradictions in witness testimonies.
The accused, Sajid Ali, son of Mohsin Khan, was charged with making derogatory remarks against religious personalities. A case was registered against him on April 14, 2020, in Hasan Abdal, Attock.
Sajid was charged under Section 295-C of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), which prescribes the death penalty for blasphemy against Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), and Section 298-A, which carries up to three years of imprisonment for derogatory remarks against the Prophet’s family or companions.
In 2023, an additional sessions judge in Hasan Abdal convicted Sajid, sentencing him to death along with a fine of Rs 100,000. The court also sentenced him to three years of rigorous imprisonment under Section 298-A. Sajid, however, challenged the verdict in the Lahore High Court.
During the appeal, Sajid’s counsel, Tania Bazai, argued that the case was fabricated and that the prosecution failed to produce credible evidence supporting the allegations. She highlighted contradictions in the statements of prosecution witnesses, who presented inconsistent accounts of the alleged incident.
The defense lawyer further pointed out that the First Information Report (FIR) was registered several days after the alleged incident and argued that the prosecution failed to establish any direct or concrete link between her client and the blasphemous remarks.
After reviewing the case, the Lahore High Court found the evidence against Sajid to be inconclusive and insufficient to uphold the conviction. The court noted significant contradictions in the testimonies of prosecution witnesses, which undermined their credibility.
Consequently, the Rawalpindi Bench of the Lahore High Court overturned the trial court's decision, annulled the death sentence, and ordered Sajid’s immediate release.
