Sindh (AsiaNews) – Three new cases of abuse and extrajudicial killings linked to blasphemy legislation have been reported in Pakistan, putting the international spotlight again on the abuses and violence caused by the controversial rules that have already been the subject of controversy and condemnation in the past.
The first concerns a doctor, Shahnawaz Kumbhar, originally from Umerkot (Sindh), accused of sharing blasphemous posts on social media that, according to some, were published by a fake Facebook account using his name.
The doctor was killed in an encounter with police in Mirpurkhas. Earlier, some religious parties in Sindh held a violent protest demanding harsh and exemplary measures against Shahnawaz, including his immediate arrest.
When the Umerkot police chief told the mob that a criminal investigation would be launched against the accused, protesters dispersed.
After Dr Shahnawaz was killed in an apparent fake police encounter, religious leaders paid tribute to his killer, Captain Asad Chaudhary, with slogans and hymns reminiscent of what was said about Mumtaz Qadri who assassinated Salman Taseer.
Meanwhile, in Kharotabad, Quetta, relatives of Abdul Ali, suspected of blasphemy and killed last week by an officer, have pardoned the policeman. Despite blood ties, the family strongly condemned the suspect, killed in an alleged blasphemy affair without trial or evidence.
“We never hesitate to render our lives in the honour of the Holy Prophet,” relatives said, adding that they forgave the police officer, Captain Syed Khan Sarhadi, "in the name of Allah and unconditionally” and “we will not fight the case against him in court.”
For Halar Nawaz, editor and political analyst at Indo, “Now, the fire of fake blasphemy cases has spread in all provinces of Pakistan. This is the first case of killing in the name of blasphemy in Sindh province, this is condemnable.”
In his view, “Failing to present the accused in court, staging a police encounter, and then handing over the body to the crowd to be set on fire is a clear violation of the legal process, both unconstitutional and illegal.”
The extrajudicial killing of Shahnawaz Kunbhar in Mirpurkhas, even though a case had already been filed against him under Section 295-C of the Pakistan Penal Code (which punishes insulting the Prophet Muhammad), raises serious concerns.
The victim had stated that his Facebook account had been hacked, highlighting the growing problem of digital fraud and false accusations in social media.
Halar Nawaz wonders how it is possible to determine guilt without a proper legal investigation, not to mention executions, often linked to mob violence. Islamic legal experts and teachings also condemn such vigilante violence. “Punishment should be determined by the courts, not by the police, individuals, or mobs,” Nawaz said.
Meanwhile, a special court in Rawalpindi sentenced a Christian woman, Shagufta Kiran (pictured), to death after finding her guilty of blasphemy.
Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) had arrested her on 29 July 2021, for participating in a discussion on religious issues on a WhatsApp group called "Pure Discussion".
The complainant, Sheraz Ahmed Farooqi, claimed that her remarks in the group were "disrespectful" to the Prophet Muhammad. The sentence left her family, especially her four children, dismayed by a court decision they deem unjust.
Shagufta’s lawyer, Rana Abdul Hameed, who is connected to the Voice for Justice human rights organisation, says that the accusations are unfounded and motivated only by personal grudges. In fact, blasphemy accusations are often used to settle personal scores or disputes.
Jubilee Campaign, a Netherlands-based advocacy group, has provided legal assistance to the woman and is preparing to appeal to the High Court.
“We have been crying since yesterday, and this news has brought even more pain and trauma to our entire family,” said Shagufta’s daughter Nihaal, one of the woman’s four distraught children.
“For the past four years, we have suffered because of my mother’s case. She has been kept in an isolation cell since 2021. God has put us in a great trial,” Nihaal added in an interview with EU Today.
Activists call on the international community to speak out against the never-ending abuse of Pakistan’s blasphemy legislation, and demand support for the protection of religious minorities and the safeguarding of fundamental human rights.
