SC Orders State to Take ‘Utmost Care’ in Blasphemy Cases

Web Desk — In a detailed judgement, The Supreme Court (SC) asked the concerned state functionaries to exercise “utmost care” while dealing with blasphemy cases.

This judgement by the apex court came in the case of a bail granted to a Christian sanitary worker imprisoned since last year.

A division bench comprising Justice Qazi Faez Isa and Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah heard the post-arrest bail application of Salamat Mansha Masih, a sweeper with the Lahore Waste Management Company (LWMC), had been accused of committing blasphemy.

“Unfortunately, such cases receive wide publicity which has an adverse effect and may also jeopardise a fair trial,” stated Justice Qazi Faez Isa in a nine-page judgement.

“Irresponsible and sensational broadcasts and publications repeat what allegedly the accused had said or done; those repeating this may themselves be committing the same offence,” said the judgement, expressing reservations over the “serious” nature of “offences relating to religion”.

“A section 295-C offence prescribes only punishment by death,” it observed and furthered that “therefore, utmost care must be exercised by all concerned that no injustice in the administration of justice takes place”.

The apex court’s judgement also took notice of how “many a time false allegations are levelled to settle personal scores and cases are also registered for mischievous purposes or on account of ulterior motives”.

Furthermore, the court stated that when there is only the improbable oral testimony of witnesses in relation to offences relating to religion, there should be corroboration in accordance with Islamic jurisprudential principles, as well as the constitutionally guaranteed right to a fair trial and due process.