LAHORE (ENN) In a ruling, the Toba Tek Singh court, bailed Saima and her sister Sonia, who had been wrongfully accused of blasphemy. The sisters, hailing from Village 304 in Tehsil Gujra, District Toba Tek Singh, were charged two months ago under Sections 295-B and 497(2) of the Pakistan Penal Code. Both were alleged that they had discarded a sack containing waste paper with sacred inscriptions onto an empty plot.
Saima, a volunteer lady health worker, and Sonia, who runs a school, vehemently denied the accusations, stating that they had no involvement in the incident. Saima emphasized, “We have been living separately, and we did not throw any such sack in the empty plot. I have worked with the Muslim community for years, and I deeply respect all divine books. The accusations are baseless and were made out of malice.”
According to their lawyer, Chaudhry Haneef Hameed Mithu, the case was filed with ill intentions. “The incident was allegedly on August 6, 2024, yet the case was registered a day late without any witnesses. No local residents were informed, and no complaint was made on the emergency helpline,” Mithu said. He highlighted that the case was fabricated with the intent of settling personal scores.
Mithu also noted that Saima is a widow who solely supports her children after the death of her husband and parents.
The court, led by Session Judge Waseem Mubaraik, granted bail to the two women after reviewing the case. Advocate Mithu highlighted that this is a significant victory as it is the first time two women have been declared innocent in a blasphemy case. However, the threat of mob violence remains, as the sisters and their family have received threats and live in constant fear of lynching.
Minority rights activist Joseph Jansen expressed deep concern over the misuse of blasphemy laws in Pakistan. “The case of Saima and Sonia is yet another example of how blasphemy laws are abused to settle personal vendettas. These laws, which carry the death penalty, have led to mob violence and extrajudicial killings. This must stop before more innocent lives are lost,” Jansen said.
Jansen cited recent cases of blasphemy-related violence, including the killing of Nazir/Lazar Masih in Sargodha in May 2024, the extrajudicial killing of a blasphemy suspect in Quetta on September 12, 2024, and the killing of Dr. Shahnawaz Kumbhbar by a police in Umerkot District on September 18, 2024. In the latter case, Dr. Kumbhbar was accused of blasphemy, fled from a mob, and was later killed in police custody, with his body set on fire by a mob during his family’s attempt to bury him.
Jansen stressed that Pakistan must fully investigate and punish those responsible for these extrajudicial killings and false accusations. “Mob justice and the misuse of blasphemy laws must end. It is time for Pakistan to protect its citizens and uphold the rule of law,” he urged.
