SC orders release of blasphemy convict

Mushtaq was awarded life imprisonment by a trial court in Multan in 2006

ISLAMABAD: A three-member bench of the Supreme Court has acquitted a convict who had been in jail for 11 years for blasphemy.

The bench, headed by acting Chief Justice Asif Saeed Khosa, on Wednesday took up an appeal from convict Mushtaq who had been awarded life imprisonment by a trial court in Multan in October 2006. The Lahore High Court had upheld the verdict.



During the hearing, the bench observed that blasphemy is sensitive issue, and such allegations make life of the accused miserable as people take the law into their own hands. Justice Dost Muhammad Khan said Mashal Khan’s murder is a case in point.

The bench pointed out to cases where such allegations were leveled against opponents to settle personal scores.

The court examined a complete record of the case and observed that the prosecution had failed to establish that the convict committed this offence with intention.



The complainant was also not present at the crime scene and the convict, in his statement, stated that he was drug addict, observed the court.

The bench also mentioned a number of shortcomings in the trail, saying that the high court could not point out them.

Tasneem Akhtar argued on behalf of convict. After hearing her arguments, the bench gave the benefit of the doubt to the convict and ordered his release.