SAHIWAL: Anti-Terrorism Court Special Judge Ziaullah Khan on Thursday granted another seven-day remand for two suspects who were booked along with 15 unknown people in a blasphemy case registered by Kameer police on Nov 16.

The judge ordered that both suspects be presented in the court on Nov 28. Earlier, the same judge had granted a five-day remand, which has now been extended by seven days.

SP Investigation Muhammad Tahir told Dawn that the police sought additional time to further investigate the matter.

While replying to a question about the nature of hate material, he said the police recovered written material belonging to the “Pervaizi Rationalist School” of thought, including pamphlets, books, Allama Pervaiz’s magazine “Talooh-i-Islam,” few videos, and a social media channel link where they propagated Allama Pervaiz’s views with their own interpretation about various aspects of Islam and matters related to the life of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him).

The first information report said both suspects were spreading material to Shaban and Umer Daraz.

The FIR further added both suspects were spreading views where they denied the physical happening of Waqia Mairaj and the existence of “miracles” as mentioned in Sura Namal.

Reports said on the complaint of a resident Soraj Shahzad, Kameer police sealed the markaz (centre) and booked 15 people on charges of spreading blasphemous and hate material in surrounding localities through pamphlets and social media platforms.

Subsequently, Kameer police registered a case under sections 295 A and 295 C of the Pakistan Penal Code and sections 7 & 9 of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997.

Police arrested Muhammad Khan, a resident of Khayaban City, Kameer, and Abdur Rehman.

Police had sealed the centre on Nov 16.

Published in Dawn, November 22th, 2024