Lahore High Court Acquits Couple In Blasphemy Case
Fahad Shabbir (@FahadShabbir) Published June 03, 2021 | 10:07 PM
The Lahore High Court (LHC) Thursday acquitted a couple on death row seven years after their conviction for alleged blasphemy
LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 3rd Jun, 2021 ) :The Lahore High Court (LHC) Thursday acquitted a couple on death row seven years after their conviction for alleged blasphemy.
The division bench headed by Justice Syed Shahbaz Ali Rizvi on Thursday allowed the appeal of Shafqat Emmanuel and his wife Shagufta Maseeh against their conviction by a trial court. The bench had reserved its verdict on the appeal a day earlier after hearing detailed arguments of the parties.
Advocate Saiful Malook represented the appellants before the bench, whereas the complainants were represented by Advocate Chaudhry Ghulam Mustafa.
In his final arguments, the defense counsel argued that the trial court ignored the basic principles of criminal justice and committed error in its decision. He further submitted that the trial court had committed material irregularity in misreading the evidence on record that caused serious miscarriage of justice.
He pleaded with the court to set aside the trial court sentence and acquit his clients.
However, the complainant's counsel opposed the plea, stating that the trial court made the decision on merit after the prosecution succeeded in proving its case on the basis of independent and impeachable evidence.
Shafqat, watchman of Gojra's Saint Cathedral school, and his wife Shagufta Maseeh were arrested on July 25, 2013 ,under Section 295C, allegedly on the charge of sending blasphemous text messages to the complainants--- shopkeeper Malik Muhammad Hussain and Gojra tehsil bar's former president Anwar Mansoor Goraya.
In April 2014, an additional district and sessions judge of Toba Tek Singh handed down death sentence to the couple for blasphemy and fined Rs 100,000 each.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Turkey's Freedom Flotilla ready to set sail for Gaza
French teen dies from heart failure after knife attack near school
Iranians appear unfazed by Isfahan blasts
UAF celebrates Int'l Chinese Language Day
Mirpur Police arrest 68 suspects of food outlet attack
Ecuador mayor killed ahead of anti-crime referendum: police
Flooding on Chitral-Peshawar Highway strands travelers
Bilawal Bhutto demands govt to hold tripartite dialogue to curb terrorism
Punjab ombudsman facilitates over 1.36 crore payment to victims
Croatia top court bars president from becoming next PM
Leghari seeks KP Govt’s cooperation in anti-power theft campaign
Sehwan Development Authority's staff protests against non-payment of salaries
More Stories From Pakistan
-
UAF celebrates Int'l Chinese Language Day
24 minutes ago -
Flooding on Chitral-Peshawar Highway strands travelers
42 minutes ago -
Bilawal Bhutto demands govt to hold tripartite dialogue to curb terrorism
41 minutes ago -
Punjab ombudsman facilitates over 1.36 crore payment to victims
42 minutes ago -
Leghari seeks KP Govt’s cooperation in anti-power theft campaign
42 minutes ago -
Sehwan Development Authority's staff protests against non-payment of salaries
42 minutes ago
-
DIG directs SSPs to take unrelenting action against organized crimes
1 hour ago -
Govt committed to provide relief to poor people: Khawaja Asif
1 hour ago -
Pakistan's indigenous products can enter global market: Experts
1 hour ago -
Roti, naan will be available at official rates. Nanbai Association
1 hour ago -
PTF meeting for polio eradication held
1 hour ago -
Emaan Pakistan Eid-Mela inaugurated
1 hour ago