HYDERABAD: An additional district judge on Tuesday sentenced an accused in a blasphemy case to 25 years of rigorous imprisonment after a trial conducted inside Hyderabad central jail.

The judge stated in the judgment that accused was convicted under Section 265-H (2) of Cr.PC. Besides the jail term the convict would also have to pay a fine of Rs500,000.

In case of default on the payment of the penalty, the convict would undergo another three months in prison, said the judgement.

The judge said the sentence was awarded on the basis of mitigating circumstances and the accused “shall be entitled to benefit under Section 382-B of CrPC” as no concrete proof was found for awarding him death sentence.

According to state counsel, Mujeeb Qadir Memon, the case against the accused was lodged by a complainant Mehboob Ali at Mirpur Sakro police station, Thatta, vide crime (No. 53/2018) under Section 295-C PPC.

The complainant said that on April 1, 2018, the accused claimed himself to be a prophet in his presence at main bus stop in Buhara town. Ali Khan, Mohammad Anwar, Shahzad and Aslam Arain were witnesses in the case. The accused asked the complainant and the witnesses to recognise him as a prophet, he claimed in the FIR.

Published in Dawn, August 14th, 2024

Opinion

First line of defence

First line of defence

Pakistan’s foreign service has long needed reform to be able to adapt to global changes and leverage opportunities in a more multipolar world.

Editorial

Eid amidst crises
Updated 31 Mar, 2025

Eid amidst crises

Until the Muslim world takes practical steps to end these atrocities, these besieged populations will see no joy.
Women’s rights
Updated 01 Apr, 2025

Women’s rights

Such judgements, and others directly impacting women’s rights should be given more airtime in media.
Not helping
Updated 02 Apr, 2025

Not helping

If it's committed to peace in Balochistan, the state must draw a line between militancy and legitimate protest.
Hard habits
Updated 30 Mar, 2025

Hard habits

Their job is to ensure that social pressures do not build to the point where problems like militancy and terrorism become a national headache.
Dreams of gold
30 Mar, 2025

Dreams of gold

PROSPECTS of the Reko Diq project taking off soon seem to have brightened lately following the completion of the...
No invitation
30 Mar, 2025

No invitation

FOR all of Pakistan’s hockey struggles, including their failure to qualify for the Olympics and World Cup as well...