Police have registered a blasphemy case against the owner of a private school and her maid in Rai Kalan village of Punjab’s Kasur district for allegedly desecrating pages of the Quran, Dawn News reported on Tuesday.
A video of the incident, which occurred on Friday, was recorded and went viral on social media the next day.
As a result, a large crowd from neighbouring villages gathered outside the school and a large number of police also arrived.
According to the FIR, the school driver and gardener recorded a video of the burnt pages and informed the complainant. Allegations suggest that the maid burnt the pages on the instructions of the school owner. Police have said that the situation is under control and arrests will be made soon.
Blasphemy is an extremely sensitive and controversial issue in Pakistan, where accusations of insulting religion or religious texts can result in severe legal consequences and social backlash.
False accusations of blasphemy in Pakistan have resulted in severe consequences for a number of individuals, often resulting from personal grievances or societal tensions.
A prominent case is that of Aasiya Bibi, a Christian woman who was falsely accused of blasphemy in 2009. Despite being ultimately acquitted by the Supreme Court in 2018, her case attracted significant international attention and highlighted the dangers of false accusations, reports Dawn News.
Similarly, in 2017, Mashal Khan, a university student, was wrongly accused of blasphemy and brutally murdered, a situation further aggravated by personal vendetta.
In 2013, the case of Sawan Masih, an accused Christian man, led to violent attacks on Christian communities and was criticised for lack of credible evidence.
In addition, Rimsha Masih, a young Christian girl with learning disabilities, faced charges in 2012 that were later proven to be fabricated, highlighting the vulnerability of those targeted by false claims. These cases demonstrate the serious ramifications and risks associated with false blasphemy accusations in Pakistan, reports Dawn News.
Blasphemy laws in Pakistan have been criticised for often being misused to settle personal scores, target minority communities or incite violence. False accusations can lead to severe social and legal consequences, including mob violence and extrajudicial killings.
Enforcement of the blasphemy law has faced criticism for a lack of due process, resulting in protracted legal battles and significant social unrest in many cases.
In addition, the judicial process is often influenced by public opinion and pressure from extremist groups. Human rights organizations and international bodies have condemned blasphemy laws for their potential to violate fundamental rights and freedoms.
Critics argue that these laws violate the principles of freedom of expression and are used to persecute religious minorities and dissenters.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
