In a controversial case that has sparked widespread debate, an anti-terrorism court in Sahiwal has delivered a verdict sentencing a Christian youth to death for his alleged involvement in inciting riots in Jaranwala last year.
The young man, accused of circulating a social media post deemed blasphemous, was also sentenced to 22 years in prison and fined Rs1 million by Special Judge Ziaullah Khan.
The unrest in Jaranwala erupted following allegations of desecration of the Holy Quran, resulting in the vandalism and ransacking of dozens of Christian homes and approximately 20 churches.
Punjab police had initially arrested around 135 individuals in connection with the attacks on the minority community, although Advocate Akmal Bhatti, chairman of the Minorities Alliance, noted that most had been discharged or granted bail, leaving only a dozen facing ongoing trials.
Earlier this year, a separate ATC in Faisalabad acquitted two Christian brothers who were falsely implicated in a blasphemy case, revealing that personal vendettas had motivated their accusations.
The convict in this recent case was apprehended based on allegations that he shared blasphemous content on social media, which subsequently went viral on platforms like TikTok.
While the accused did not create the content himself, he was found guilty under several sections including blasphemy laws (295(C) and 295(A)), the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, and the Anti-Terrorism Act (7(1)(G)-ATA). The complainant, Sub-Inspector Amir Farooq, currently serving as SHO at Ghala Mandi police, clarified that while the youth did not originate the content, his act of sharing it contributed to its dissemination.
This case underscores the sensitive nature of blasphemy allegations in Pakistan, where accusations can lead to severe legal consequences, including death sentences. It has also raised concerns about the protection of minority rights and the misuse of blasphemy laws to settle personal or communal disputes.
