Written by Muhammad Ahmad Imagine forwarding a message on WhatsApp and ending up in jail, accused of blasphemy, facing death threats, and ...
Written by Muhammad Ahmad
.jpg)
Imagine forwarding a message on WhatsApp and ending up in jail, accused of blasphemy, facing death threats, and watching your family crumble under fear and legal bills. Sounds like a nightmare, doesn’t it? But for hundreds of young Pakistanis, this is real life.
In the halls of the Islamabad High Court, a troubling case is unfolding, one that shines a harsh light on how some of Pakistan’s most sacred laws may be misused against the very citizens they are meant to protect. This case, widely referred to as the "blasphemy gang case," points to an alarming and systematic abuse of legal and digital systems to trap young people in cases that carry very serious consequences.
In recent months, a petition was filed in the Islamabad High Court asking for a proper investigation into an organized network accused of falsely trapping people in blasphemy cases. The petitioners have requested the formation of a judicial commission to look into the issue. The case is being heard by Justice Sardar Ijaz Ishaq Khan. During the hearing, serious claims were presented: that a group of people, often using digital tricks, are pulling young men into WhatsApp groups, sending them objectionable content, and then accusing them of blasphemy when they unknowingly forward the messages. These petitions argue that this is not just a one-time issue, but a pattern.
Lawyers in the courtroom argued that their clients were trapped through online platforms. They shared that their clients had been added to WhatsApp groups where sensitive content was posted. In many cases, young men were convinced by someone pretending to be a friend or romantic interest to forward this content. Once they did, they were accused of spreading blasphemy, a charge that can lead to the death penalty under Section 295-C of Pakistan’s Penal Code. The petitioners claimed that more than 400 people have been affected in this way, but only around 25 to 30 individuals are behind most of the complaints. These few complainants allegedly file repeated cases across provinces, pointing to a possible coordinated effort. This makes the issue even more serious, as it suggests a network operating with planning and intent.
The
National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR) began its own investigation in
October 2023, after receiving complaints about such entrapment. What they found
added weight to the claims heard in court. The NCHR discovered that many of the
people arrested were young, between 17 and 33 years old, and from low-income
families. Most of them were accused by a group that seems to be working with or
getting support from certain officials. The same names and techniques came up
again and again in different cities. One common method involved a girl
contacting the target online through Facebook or WhatsApp. She would start
casual conversations, slowly introduce sensitive or religiously offensive
content, and ask the person to forward it. Later, she would invite them to meet
in a public place under some false reason like a job offer or personal meeting.
At the location, a group of private individuals would arrest the person,
sometimes violently, and hand them over to the FIA.
According to the National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR) report, in many of these cases, accused individuals reported being physically tortured at two stages. Initially, private individuals who trapped the victims often used physical violence during illegal arrests. These private actors, not official police or FIA officers, sometimes beat the accused and forced them to sign blank papers under pressure. Later, after the accused were handed over to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), there were also allegations that some FIA officials used custodial torture and intimidation during the early stages of detention. Forensic tests on their phones were not done properly, and evidence was based only on screenshots. In courtrooms, many of these accused have no lawyers because others fear getting involved in blasphemy cases.
The alleged gang seems to have multiple motivations. One major goal is financial gain through blackmail and extortion; after trapping someone in a blasphemy case, they could demand money from the accused or their families to “settle” the matter privately. Additionally, the gang members may seek religious or social prestige by portraying themselves as defenders of faith. Some reports also suggest that false blasphemy accusations were used as tools for personal revenge or to settle rivalries.
Real stories make the statistics more painful. Uzair*, an MBA student, was contacted online by someone who promised job help. He was arrested when he went to meet her. Bilal*, a civil engineer, was pushed into sharing content and then arrested. His family now lives in fear, spending their savings on legal fees. Javaid*, a blind young man, went to the FIA by himself when he was called. He was then beaten and accused based on a damaged phone that couldn't even be checked for evidence. These examples, and many more, were also shared with the Islamabad High Court, where petitioners are now asking for a commission to be formed. They want an independent group to check if the laws are being misused and whether private actors are involved in trapping people for personal or political reasons.
The rise in blasphemy cases is shocking. In 2020, there were only 11 such prisoners. By July 2024, there are 767. Punjab has the most cases—581—showing a major problem in that region. This issue is not just about numbers. It is about broken families, lost futures, and people living in fear. Many of the accused had no idea they were doing anything wrong. Some were caught just because someone added them to a group or sent them a message they didn’t understand. The system failed them by allowing weak investigations, harsh punishments, and no chance to defend themselves properly.
From an Islamic perspective, the actions of such a gang are considered highly sinful and forbidden (haram). Islam strictly condemns false accusations, as mentioned in the Quran:
“Do not follow that of which you have no knowledge. Surely the hearing the sight the heart - each of these shall be called to account.” (Surah Al-Isra, 17:36).
Launching a false charge against someone, especially without proof, is a serious offense. The Quran states in Surah An-Noor (24:4)
“Those who accuse honourable women (of unchastity) but do not produce four witnesses flog them with eighty lashes and do not admit their testimony ever after. They are indeed transgressors”.
Moreover, Islam categorizes the deliberate misuse of law to harm others as fasad fil ard (spreading corruption on Earth), which is among the gravest sins.
The NCHR has recommended forming a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) that includes officials from different departments. This team would check how these cases are handled, whether rules were followed, and who might be misusing their power. The Islamabad High Court now has a big responsibility. The decisions made in this courtroom will affect not just those already arrested, but anyone who uses the internet in Pakistan. People must not live in fear that a single forwarded message could lead to jail or worse.
This case reveals deep and painful cracks in Pakistan’s legal and digital systems. The horrifying pattern of entrapping young individuals through deceptive online tactics, the use of torture, forced confessions, and the misuse of blasphemy laws for financial, social, or political gain demands urgent attention. Both the NCHR’s findings and the courtroom proceedings highlight a system where private individuals, sometimes with the cooperation of officials, have violated the basic rights of hundreds of citizens. From an Islamic perspective, such acts of false accusation, manipulation, and cruelty are strictly forbidden and are seen as severe sins. Justice demands not only the investigation and dismantling of this network but also broader legal reforms to protect citizens from similar abuses. It is essential that the judiciary ensures fair trials, proper digital forensic practices, and strict accountability for those misusing sacred laws for personal benefit. The Islamabad High Court must seize this opportunity to restore public trust by taking a firm stand against injustice and setting an example that no one is above the law. For the sake of the innocent already trapped, and to safeguard future generations, the time to act decisively is now.
Disclaimer
*Names
have been changed to protect privacy.
.jpg)