ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed a plea against the 2017 acquittal of an accused in a blasphemy case by the Lahore High Court (LHC)
Malik Ishaq was arrested on charges of blasphemy under section 295 A and C in 2009, and was sentenced to death by a trial court in 2011.
However, the LHC acquitted him in 2017 due to lack of evidence. Later, the complainant Asadullah challenged the acquittal in the apex court.
On Thursday, the bench headed by Justice Asif Saeed Khosa observed that there were several irregularities in the investigation. It observed that the person at whose house a video of the accused was recorded had not appeared as a witness in the case. The court also noted that under section 196 of the Pakistan Penal Code, blasphemy cases must be investigated by a police officer of the rank of Superintendent of Police (SP). The condition had not been met in the case.
The bench, thus, upheld the LHC’s decision to acquit the accused and dismissed the petition.
Published in Daily Times, February 23rd 2018.
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