Acquittal Gives Christian Hope for the 2nd Blasphemy Case.

A Christian sentenced to death in one blasphemy case in Pakistan was acquitted on Feb. 20 in another related to the same incident, with the judge citing double jeopardy, his attorney said. Police illegally charged Noman Masih, 24, twice for the same incident, but he remains on death row for conviction in the first case, said attorney Lazar Allah Rakha.

Police illegally charged Noman Masih, 24, twice for the same incident, but he remains on death row for conviction in the first case, said attorney Lazar Allah Rakha.

Police charged Masih in two cities, Bahawalnagar and Bahawalpur, as officers acted with a mala fide intent to punish him in two blasphemy cases registered within three days.

“The police also tried to prosecute him in an anti-terrorism court, although the case did not fall under terrorism,” Rakha said. “I resisted their attempt and successfully argued that the session court hear the case. The police’s prejudicial attitude towards Masih insinuates that someone wanted to see him suffer at all costs.”

A judge in the Bahawalpur case handed Masih the death sentence in May 2023 after a four-year trial, though prosecutors failed to provide any evidence against him, Rakha said.

“Moreover, all the witnesses produced by the prosecution also failed to corroborate the police narrative,” he said. “It was a miscarriage of justice, to say the least.”

The Feb. 20 acquittal in the Bahawalnagar case has raised hope that the Lahore High Court will consider Masih’s appeal against the death sentence on merit and order his acquittal, Rakha said.

“I’m 1,000 percent confident that the high court will set aside Masih’s conviction when it examines the lacunas in the prosecution’s story that the trial court had ignored,” he said. “Masih will, God willing, soon reunite with his family.”

The attorney, who has won freedom for several people charged with blasphemy, expressed gratitude for the legal advocacy group Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) International, which supported him in Masih’s case.

“Masih’s parents are impoverished, and I’m grateful to ADF for partnering with me in this legal battle for justice,” he said.

Masih’s father, Asghar Masih, said his family was deeply relieved to learn about the acquittal.

Asghar Masih, a cleaner and member of the Anglican Church of Pakistan, said he could not thank Rakha enough for standing with the family.

“Though advocate Lazar continuously encouraged us and kept our hopes alive, my wife and I have been extremely worried about the outcome of this case,” he said.

‘Secret Information’

Police arrested Noman Masih and his cousin, Sunny Waqas, after officers in their respective districts, citing “secret information,” filed cases against them under Section 295-C of Pakistan’s controversial blasphemy statutes. Section 295-C, for derogatory comments about Muhammad, the prophet of Islam, carries a mandatory death sentence.

Upon questioning, Waqas told police that his cousin Noman had shared the alleged sacrilegious images with him on WhatsApp, according to the complainant. Waqas was taken into custody on June 29, 2019, and charged with blasphemy.

On July 1, 2019, Bahawalpur police arrested Noman Masih.

On Jan. 17, 2023, the Lahore High Court Bahawalpur Bench granted bail to Waqas, the main suspect, because his trial had not concluded within the mandatory two-year period. Courts routinely dismiss bail pleas by blasphemy suspects, especially those charged under Section 295-C, a non-bailable offense.