LAHORE: A district and sessions court of Bahawalpur handed down death penalty to a youth on blasphemy charge two days ago.

The 19-year-old youth was arrested by the Baghdadul Jadeed police after registration of a case under section 295-C of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) in 2019.

The convict was accused of running a WhatsApp group and sharing blasphemous material against religious figures.

Additional District and Sessions Judge Hafeezur Rehman Khan heard the case and forensic evidence was presented in the court.

The police investigators also recovered the mobile phone the convict used to run the WhatsApp group and share the blasphemous material.

The court sentenced him to death and also imposed a Rs20,000 fine. The convict will undergo another six months in jail for failing to deposit the fine.

Section 295-C deals with the offence of using derogatory remarks, etc, against the Holy Prophet (PBUH): Whoever by words, either spoken or written, or by visible representation or by any imputation, innuendo, or insinuation, directly or indirectly, defiles the sacred name of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) shall be punished with death, or imprisonment for life, and shall also be liable to fine.

Published in Dawn, June 3rd, 2023