Man arrested for launching threatening campaign against CJP Isa

Process of identifying other individuals involved in social media campaign against chief justice is underway

In a significant development, Abdul Wasay, a resident of the Pandora area in Rawalpindi, was apprehended on Thursday for launching a threatening campaign on social media against Chief Justice of Pakistan, Qazi Faez Isa.

The arrest comes after Wasay participated in a vile and threatening social media campaign against the chief justice, along with engaging in character assassination on X, formerly known as Twitter, Express News reported.

Law enforcement agencies acted swiftly, detaining Abdul Wasay to curb any potential escalation of the situation. The ongoing process of identifying other individuals involved in the social media campaign against Chief Justice Isa is underway, and strict legal action is promised against all such persons once identified.

The threatening campaign gained momentum following Chief Justice Isa's observations in a blasphemy-related case. In the judgment, Chief Justice Isa highlighted that Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was told by the Almighty to convey only the Message and not compel people to believe in Him. Citing Quranic verses to support his observation, the chief justice emphasised the fundamental tenets of Islam, particularly the freedom of faith.

Also read: Govt warns against online incitement as arrest made in threats against CJP Isa

"Sadly, in matters of religion, tempers flare up, and the Quranic mandate is forsaken," Chief Justice Isa remarked, acknowledging the sensitivity surrounding religious matters. He made these observations while deciding a case involving the deletion of charges against a man accused of blasphemy. The charges included section 7, read with section 9 of the Punjab Holy Quran (Printing and Recording) Act, 2011, Sections 298-C, and 295-B of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC).

Chief Justice Isa underscored the need for extreme caution when dealing with matters of faith, recognising that religious compulsion violates the Divine scheme of accountability in the Hereafter. The top court regretfully noted that emotions often override facts in cases related to offenses against religion. Despite the nature of these offenses not being against an individual or personal property, individual complainants tend to supersede the state's role.

In a gesture acknowledging the complex nature of the case, the top court granted bail to the petitioner, Mubarik Ahmed Sani, upon providing a personal bond of Rs5,000.

The controversy surrounding Chief Justice Isa's observations escalated as several political parties in the country, including Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F), and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), joined the campaign. These parties actively called for Chief Justice Isa to reconsider his verdict in the specific case, adding a political dimension to the already charged discourse on matters of faith.