LAHORE: A sessions court on Monday handed down death sentence to a man on blasphemy charges after the prosecution established its case against him.

The Islampura police had arrested Zulfiqar Ali red-handed when he was writing blasphemous remarks against Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) on the boundary wall of Afghan Park in Santnagar area.

Some locals of the area had witnessed the convict and summoned the police immediately. Police lodged an FIR on the complaint of Syed Najamul Hasan in 2008.

The complainant further alleged that the convict used to utter objectionable remarks whenever he heard Azan.

The convict through his counsel denied charges against him and alleged that the complainant implicated him wrongfully.

The prosecution said the witnesses and evidences proved the charges of blasphemy.

Additional District and Sessions Judge Naveed Islam sentenced Zulfiqar Ali death sentence and also imposed a fine of Rs1 million.

Published in Dawn, July 15th, 2014