Pakistan Court Suspends Blasphemy Commission After Islamic Threats (Worthy News In-Depth)
By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
LAHORE, PAKISTAN (Worthy News) – One of Pakistan’s main courts has suspended an independent commission that would investigate the misuse of the country’s blasphemy laws after pressure from Islamic hardliners, sources told Worthy News.
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) made the move following threats by groups such as Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), a far-right Islamist political party, well-informed Christians said.
Advocate Farooq Bashir, general secretary of the Christian Lawyers Alliance Pakistan, told Worthy News he was deeply concerned as TLP leader Molana Hafiz Saad Rizvi “openly threatened the judiciary.”
The TLP chief “used grossly inappropriate language against judges under the banner of protecting the honor of the Prophet Muhammad,” Bashir explained.
Bashir, said that due to the threats, “a division bench” within the IHC has now overturned a July 15 ruling by Justice Ejaz Ishaq Khan.
“After 42 hearings on over 100 petitions, Justice Khan ordered the formation of an independent commission to investigate the widespread misuse of Pakistan’s blasphemy laws. [The commission would focus on] cases where digital evidence was manipulated, confessions were coerced, and false allegations were weaponized to extort money or settle personal disputes,” Bashir explained.
“This ruling was a glimmer of institutional courage. It recognized the alarming number of blasphemy cases” in a nation where scores of people, many of them Christians, are on death row for blasphemy against Islam, the lawyer stressed.
“Tragically, this order has now been suspended by a division bench of the same court, following pressure from political and religious figures. Let me be clear: no individual, regardless of their religious or political identity, has the right to incite hatred, degrade state institutions, or endanger the lives of public officials.”
‘UNETHICAL CONTACT’
“Such conduct is not only unethical but also criminal and poses a serious threat to Pakistan’s constitutional democracy and rule of law.”
Bashir said the postponement of forming the investigative commission came while Pakistani police made some 400 First Information Reports (FIRs) needed to launch criminal investigations.
There are also 700 suspects of blasphemy who in many cases were detained based on “unverified evidence and repeated use of the same [social media platform] Facebook accounts, and even custodial deaths without proper inquiries,” Bashir stressed.
“I respectfully urge the Honourable Chief Justice of Pakistan and the Chief of Army Staff to take notice of these actions and ensure that legal and constitutional mechanisms are used to hold Mr. Saad Rizvi accountable. If ordinary citizens are held responsible for their actions under the law, then public figures who provoke violence or threaten judges must not be given impunity. This is a matter of institutional dignity and national security.”
He added it was “even more alarming” to see “the systematic opposition this commission faced from extremist clerics, bar associations, and political groups — including open threats to Justice Ejaz Ishaq Khan and lawyers involved in the case. This climate of fear and coercion cannot be allowed to dictate the future of our justice system.”
In a statement to authorities, Bashir said he “strongly” urges “the judiciary, Parliament, and the Government of Pakistan to stand firm against this pressure. We must protect the independence of our courts and allow them to investigate and expose those who have turned religious laws into tools of personal and political gain.”
‘OFFENSIVE POST’
The legal wrangling came after Nabeel Masih, who was targeted under Pakistan’s blasphemy laws at the age of 16 in 2016, passed away last week after “years of imprisonment, neglect, and medical abuse,” Bashir said.
“Nabeel was arrested in 2016 under Section 295-A of the Pakistan Penal Code for allegedly sharing an image on Facebook that some individuals deemed offensive. Despite being a minor, he was prosecuted as an adult and spent nearly four years in prison,” Bashir told Worthy News.
“During his incarceration, Nabeel developed serious medical conditions, including Hepatitis E, Ascites, and Lipomas — yet was denied any proper medical care.”
Though granted bail in 2021, “the damage to his health had already become irreversible. His final years were spent battling chronic illness, unsupported by the state that had failed to protect him from false accusations and abuse of power.”
Bashir said the case underscored the “systematic abuse of blasphemy laws,” the “negligence toward religious minorities, particularly Christians,” and “a complete lack of accountability from prison authorities.”
Pakistan ranks 8th on the World Watch List of 50 nations where advocacy group Open Doors says Christians face the most persecution for their faith.
“Justice must not be silenced by fear. The lives of innocents, the credibility of our judiciary, and the unity of our nation depend on our ability to hold all citizens — regardless of faith or influence — accountable under the law,” Bashir stressed.
“We are a nation founded on the principles of justice, equality, and rule of law. Let us honor those ideals not just in word, but in action,” he said.
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