Blasphemy convict gets death penalty

Court also sentences convict to life imprisonment, fines exceeding Rs2m

RAWALPINDI:

A District and Sessions Court in Rawalpindi has delivered its verdict in a case prosecuted by the FIA Cybercrime Circle Wing, involving charges of blasphemy, desecration of the Holy Quran, and derogatory remarks against holy personalities.

The convict, Wazeed Zareen Abbasi, was sentenced to death, life imprisonment, a total of 20 years in prison, and fines exceeding Rs2 million.

Under section 295C, Abbasi was sentenced to death and fined Rs0.5 million for blasphemy. For insulting the Holy Quran under section 295B, he received life imprisonment and an additional Rs0.5 million fine. He was also sentenced to 10 years in prison and fined Rs0.5 million for the offence of blasphemy under section 295A. Furthermore, for using insulting words against holy personalities under section 298A, Abbasi received another 10-year sentence and a Rs0.5 million fine. Additionally, he was sentenced to seven years in prison and fined Rs0.5 million under the 11th Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016 (PECA).

The court stated that the crime was one of the most heinous, meriting no leniency, mercy, or exemption. Insulting holy persons and the holy book is intolerable under any circumstances, it observed. The judge emphasised the need for strict measures by the government and administration to prevent such crimes.