7 years later, LHC acquits Christian couple of blasphemy charges
The evidence on which the couple was convicted can be considered deeply flawed.
More than seven years ago, a Christian couple was sentenced to death for committing blasphemy. In a major turn of events, the Lahore High Court acquitted the couple on Thursday.
Reason for the Surprising Verdict made in the Case
The European Parliament adopted a resolution in April this year calling for a review of the GSP+ status granted to Pakistan in view of an “alarming” increase in the use of blasphemy accusations in the country, among other concerns. The resolution expressed particular concern regarding the case of Shafqat and Shagufta, saying:
The evidence on which the couple was convicted can be considered deeply flawed.
Recap of the Christian Couple’s Blasphemy Case
Shafqat Emmanuel was the watchman of a school in Toba Tek Singh district’s Gojra. He and his wife, Shagufta Masih, were arrested on the complaints of shopkeeper Malik Mohammad Hussain and Gojra Tehsil Bar’s former president Anwar Mansoor Goraya in July 2013.
The arrest was filed under Section 295-C [use of derogatory remarks, etc., in respect of the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him)] of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) and the couple was charged with sending blasphemous text messages to the complainants.
As the case progressed and evidence against the Christian couple was garnered, the couple was sentenced to death for blasphemy in April 2014. The additional district and sessions judge in Toba Tek Singh also fined Shafqat Emmanuel and Shagufta Masih with Rs. 100,000 each.
What are your thoughts on this? Please share with us in the comment section below.
Pakistan surrendered against EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT’s resolution, simply….
We should not punish poor non Muslims !!! This is really insane! court’s acquittal means they are innocent!!