LAHORE: A sessions court on Saturday sentenced four men to death in a 2022 blasphemy case registered by the then cybercrime wing of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).
Additional District and Sessions Judge Nusrat Ali Siddiqui Malik convicted the four men, holding that the prosecution had proved the charges beyond reasonable doubt.
Each convict was sentenced to death and fined Rs500,000 under Section 295-C of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), and given life imprisonment under Section 295-B.
They were also awarded 10 years’ rigorous imprisonment and a Rs100,000 fine under Section 295-A, three years and a Rs100,000 fine under Section 298-A, and seven years’ rigorous imprisonment and a Rs100,000 fine under Section 11 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca), 2016.
The judge observed that forensic evidence, despite procedural defects, was sufficient to convict the accused. However, all four were acquitted of conspiracy and common intention charges under Sections 120-B and 34 PPC, as the evidence indicated that each had acted separately.
The court ordered the sentences to run concurrently, except those relating to non-payment of fines. Time spent in custody would be deducted from the sentences.
The death sentences are subject to confirmation by the Lahore High Court, to which a reference will be sent. The convicts may appeal within 30 days.
According to the FIR, registered on May 24, 2022, on the complaint of a citizen, objectionable material was circulated through several mobile numbers in a WhatsApp group presented as a Quranic education group.
The FIA said a technical report traced one number to a suspect. A raid on his Lahore residence on May 22, 2022, led to the seizure of a laptop and two mobile phones.
Their examination allegedly revealed content derogatory to the Holy Quran and Islamic sacred personages being shared through Facebook and WhatsApp groups.
Published in Dawn, October 18th, 2026
