Pakistan Police File Blasphemy Charges Against Man in Sahiwal
A 25-year-old man from Chichawatni, Pakistan, is facing blasphemy charges due to his Facebook posts. The case was initiated by Assistant Sub-Inspector Shamsul Hasan at the Saddar Police Station in Chichawatni.
The suspect, who lives in Chak 107/12-L, had previously worked for the Senate in Islamabad but was dismissed. The FIR, filed under Section 295 (C) of the PPC and Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997, accuses him of posting hate material against the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Four separate posts with derogatory comments about revered Islamic figures were cited.
During a routine patrol, police officers discovered the suspect’s Facebook account containing the offensive posts. They have taken screenshots and stored them on a USB drive. Although the suspect was not arrested at the time, ASP Maazur Rehman assured that he would be apprehended soon.
The suspect, who is married with three children, had taken the Senate job after his father’s death. He is currently evading capture and was not in the village when the case was filed. DPO Faisal Shahzad reported that the police have taken the suspect’s family into custody for their safety. This is one of seven blasphemy cases registered in Sahiwal this year.
Pakistan’s blasphemy laws have been criticized by international human rights organizations for being overly broad and often misused, leading to mob violence and extrajudicial killings. Despite these concerns, the Pakistani government has not taken significant steps to reform or repeal these laws.
Doubts Revealed
Blasphemy -: Blasphemy means showing disrespect or saying bad things about something that is considered sacred or holy, like a religion or religious figures.
Sahiwal -: Sahiwal is a city in Pakistan. It is located in the Punjab province.
Chichawatni -: Chichawatni is a town in Pakistan, also in the Punjab province. It is near Sahiwal.
FIR -: FIR stands for First Information Report. It is a document that the police create when someone reports a crime.
Assistant Sub-Inspector -: An Assistant Sub-Inspector is a rank in the police force. It is a position below the Sub-Inspector.
Saddar Police Station -: Saddar Police Station is a police station in Sahiwal, Pakistan. It is where the FIR was filed.
Senate -: The Senate is a part of the government where important decisions and laws are made. In Pakistan, it is one of the two houses of the Parliament.
Derogatory comments -: Derogatory comments are mean or disrespectful things said about someone or something.
Evading capture -: Evading capture means trying to avoid being caught by the police.