In the populous region of Punjab, Pakistan, a lower court has sentenced a student to death for sharing blasphemous content via WhatsApp messages. The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) initiated the case against two suspects, aged 22 and 17, accused of disseminating blasphemous material against Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) through the messaging service.
Following a complaint under the stringent blasphemy law, the duo was found guilty and handed a death sentence by an additional sessions court. The defense counsel argued that the accused were ensnared in a fabricated case.
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The case, initially registered in the provincial capital Lahore, was referred by the Lahore High Court to a local court in Gujranwala for trial.
According to FIA, the accused shared various clips and images in WhatsApp groups. The plaintiff alleged receiving blasphemous content from multiple mobile phone numbers. FIA informed the court that examination of the plaintiff’s phone revealed obscene material sent from their devices.
Blasphemy remains a contentious issue in conservative Pakistani society, carrying the death penalty under the law for those deemed to insult Islam.
