Supreme Court on Friday acquitted a blasphemy accused on grounds of insufficient evidence, observing that one who wrongly involves anybody in blasphemy is a blasphemer and it is duty of the state to proceed against the accuser. Heading a two-member bench while hearing an appeal against life imprisonment in the matter, Justice Dost Muhammad Khan observed that people used to be flogged after tying them with trees during Ziaul Haq regime. He was of the view that nation is still suffering from extremism; saying one who wrongly alleges someone of blasphemy is a blasphemer himself.
Prosecution alleged that Muhammad Mansha is an accused of burning pages of the Holy Quran in Bahawalnagar and the Session Judge Bahawalnagar awarded life imprisonment to Mansha on the story of the prosecution, later Lahore High Court also maintained the sentence in 2014.
A member of the bench Justice Qazi Faiz Isa pointed out during the course of hearing that the crime scene witness is deaf and dumb to which the prosecutor apprised the bench that person who levelled charges against the accused is a cousin of Mansha.
Rizwan Ejaz, counsel for the accused in the matter pleaded before the court that FIR of the alleged incident was registered after four days on Sep 29, 2008. He further said that his client's age was 47 years while he was arrested in the case, saying Mansha spent 9 years time behind the bars.
The counsel also complained that jail authorities don't care the law and are presumed to be king of the jail as they are still taking hard work from his client who has attained the age of 56 years. Expressing dismay over the situation, Justice Dost Muhammad Khan observed there should be legislation in order to bar the jail authorities from taking hard work from old prisoners. Later, announcing its order in the matter the bench acquitted the accused.
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