News Desk
Toba Tek Singh, October 2024:
A court in Toba Tek Singh has granted bail to Saima and Sonia, two Christian women who were wrongfully accused of blasphemy two months ago. The sisters, residents of Village 304 in Tehsil Gujra, District Toba Tek Singh, had been charged under Sections 295-B of the Pakistan Penal Code for allegedly disposing of waste paper with sacred inscriptions in an empty plot.
The accusations, filed on August 7, 2024, claimed that the sisters discarded a sack containing the waste. However, both Saima, a volunteer health worker, and Sonia, who operates a school, vehemently denied the allegations. “We have been living separately and had no involvement in the incident. I respect all Holy books, and the charges against us are completely baseless,” said Saima.
Their lawyer, Chaudhry Haneef Hameed Mithu, argued that the case was fabricated to settle personal scores. “There were no witnesses, no local complaints, and no emergency helpline calls made at the time of the alleged incident. The charges were clearly filed with malicious intent,” Mithu said.
He also added, that Saima, a widow who supports her children alone after the death of her husband, had faced undue hardship.
After reviewing the case, Session Judge Waseem Mubarak granted bail to the two women, marking a landmark decision in blasphemy cases involving women. However, despite their legal victory, the sisters and their family remain under threat, having received numerous death threats from extremists.
Joseph Jansen, a minority rights activist, raised concerns over the misuse of blasphemy laws, which carry severe penalties, including the death sentence. “The case of Saima and Sonia is yet another example of how these laws are abused to settle personal disputes. Blasphemy allegations have led to mob violence and extrajudicial killings. This must end,” Jansen said.
In addition, Jansen also urged the government to address the issue urgently. “The authorities must investigate and punish those responsible for extrajudicial killings and false accusations. Mob justice and the misuse of blasphemy laws are unacceptable, and Pakistan must protect its citizens and uphold the rule of law,” he maintained.