
Lahore High Court Grants Bail to Christian Minor in Blasphemy Case, But He Remains Behind Bars
The Lahore High Court (LHC) has granted post-arrest bail to Akash Karamat, a young Christian boy accused in a blasphemy-related case under the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC). However, despite this legal relief, Akash remains in custody due to two other pending cases. His prolonged detention continues to highlight concerns regarding the application of blasphemy laws, especially against juveniles and marginalized communities in Pakistan.
The First Information Report (FIR), filed under Sections 295-A, 295-B, 295-C, and 298-A of the PPC at Satellite Town Police Station in Sargodha, was based on a complaint by Abdul Ghaffar. The complainant alleged that he found a piece of paper with offensive writings about revered Islamic figures pasted on the wall of his house on July 16, 2023. Initially, Akash’s name was not mentioned in the FIR but was later added nearly six weeks later through a supplementary statement given on September 1, 2023.
Akash’s lawyer, Asad Jamal, argued that his client was under 17 at the time of arrest and should have been granted bail earlier under the Juvenile Justice System Act of 2018. Despite a court order in July 2024 confirming Akash’s juvenile status, his bail petition was initially denied by the trial court. However, after reviewing the case, Justice Waheed Khan of the LHC granted bail, citing a lack of direct evidence. The judge noted that the supplementary statement did not specify how Akash was identified as the culprit, and there was no witness who had personally observed the alleged incident.
Further weakening the prosecution’s case, forensic analysis of handwriting samples conducted by the Punjab Forensic Science Agency yielded inconclusive results, while adhesive tape recovered from Akash did not directly link him to the alleged crime. The court also expressed concern over the lack of progress in the trial, stating that keeping the young boy in custody indefinitely was unreasonable. Justice Khan emphasized that Akash had already spent significant time behind bars, and with the investigation complete, there was no justification for continued detention in this particular case.
Despite securing bail, Akash remains imprisoned due to two other blasphemy cases still pending against him. His continued detention has caused immense distress for his family and human rights organizations advocating for his release. The case has once again drawn attention to the misuse of blasphemy laws in Pakistan, particularly their impact on vulnerable individuals, including minors and religious minorities. Legal experts and human rights defenders have renewed calls for urgent reforms to prevent wrongful prosecutions, ensure due process, and protect individuals from baseless accusations.
As Akash remains behind bars, his family and advocacy groups continue to seek justice, hoping for a fair resolution and his eventual release.