In Pakistan, the shadow of blasphemy allegations hangs heavy over countless households, with organized syndicates weaponizing the law for extortion and revenge. A damning new report reveals how refusing demands for bribes leads straight to jail through trumped-up charges.
Data from the National Commission for Human Rights paints a grim picture: more than 450 people, mostly men, have fallen victim to these schemes. Tragically, 10 Christians were among them, and at least five perished in detention.
The Islamabad High Court made headlines in July by directing the government to establish an inquiry commission following pleas from 101 families. Yet, higher courts intervened, suspending the probe and prolonging the agony for the accused.
Compounding the crisis, the FIA’s cybercrime unit has been caught red-handed in several instances of manufacturing evidence against innocents.
Take the story of Aamir Shahzad, a 33-year-old Lahore rickshaw puller. Lured out to pick up a package, he disappeared only to resurface in FIA custody, accused of Facebook blasphemy posts. His weekly jail visits from his mother uncover a prison rife with similarly framed detainees.
Activists label these operations as ‘blasphemy mafias,’ systematically targeting the young and poor. As families plead for justice, the unchecked power of these laws continues to erode trust in Pakistan’s institutions, demanding immediate overhaul.