KARACHI, Aug 11: An anti-terrorism court sentenced on Thursday a sacrilegious writer to life in jail for defiling a copy of the Holy Quran, outraging religious feelings of society and propagating religious hatred.

Judge Arshad Noor Khan of the ATC-3 also imposed fine of Rs100,000 on Mohammad Younus Shaikh, who would have to undergo an additional five-year term in case of default on the payment.

Younus Shaikh,40, was arrested on Feb 3 this year by Kharadar police for writing the sacrilegious book ‘Shaitan Maulvi’ against the Islamic teachings, calling in question the injunctions of Quran and Sunnah.

According to prosecution, Shaikh was the manager of a hotel in Kharadar and he was arrested red-handed by Sub-inspector Gulzar Ahmed Khokhar while distributing copies of his blasphemous book to people.

A case under Sections 153-A, 295-A and 295-B of the Pakistan Penal Code and Sections 8 and 9 of the Anti-terrorism Act was registered against the accused, who is a matriculate, having no religious education.

Eight, out of 5,000 published copies of the Shaitan Maulvi, were seized from the accused at the time of his arrest.

In his book, the writer deviated from the Islamic punishment of Rajam (stoning to death in case of adultery) and he also incorporated contemptuous remarks against four imams of Fiqha.

Special public prosecutor Naimat Ali Randhawa examined in all eight prosecution witnesses, who included four religious scholars belonging to different school of thoughts.

The scholars unanimously issued fatwa (religious verdict) against the accused after carefully going through the blasphemous book.

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