ISLAMABAD: On Wednesday, Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa gave the police instructions to make sure that “religion is not used for personal purposes” and stressed the importance of treating blasphemy cases “with diligence”.
The case was considered by a three-judge panel that included Justice Musarrat Hilali, Justice Mohammad Ali Mazhar, and Chief Justice Isa. The bench ordered an additional investigation into the blasphemy case and granted bail to Zubair Sabri, the accused of blasphemy, on a surety bond of Rs. 50 lakh.
The Supreme Court (SC) ordered that no officer below the rank of SP will be responsible for supervision or investigation due to the sensitivity of blasphemy matters.
“Whether the SP or SSP should be suspended for violating the law?” CJP Isa asked the SSP and SP Islamabad Police when they appeared in court as required by the SC’s order.
The attorney contended that the police promptly file blasphemy prosecutions because they fear them. “Who will remain courageous if the police become timid?” CJP Isa retorted to this.
Justice Isa also questioned whether police may enter a person’s home without a warrant. Where were the values of privacy respect and sanctity? “Can someone search your home without a warrant?” he asked the SSP.
Justice Isa declared that breaking the Police Order 2002, which prohibits entering a person’s home without a warrant, carries a five-year prison sentence. He said, “You have made a blasphemy case based on a picture as if you are the protector of Islam.”
According to Justice Isa, the photo was found after a blasphemy complaint was filed, followed by an arrest.
Once reaching the spiritual leader’s place to be blessed, the complainant noticed the ‘inappropriate’ picture and decided to submit a complaint. Justice Isa bemoaned the fact that even with their official guns, the police still look fearful. “We have had enough of these cases,” the CJP said.
To what extent “the Holy Quran mentions spiritual figures?” inquired CJP Isa of the complaint. “The Quran mentions a guiding force, not a spiritual figure,” he retorted. The complainant was reminded by Justice Isa to respond to his inquiry.
The complainant, in self-defense, informed the court that he simply brought his friend to a spiritual leader and does not even consider spiritual leaders to exist. Justice Hilali then questioned why the complainant had not taken his friend to the doctor if he did not believe in spiritual leaders.
CJP Isa enquired as to how long the spiritual leader had been detained by the police. “Seven months,” the officer answered. “Does the spiritual figure’s blessings not work on himself that he has been in jail for the past seven months?” Judge Mussarat Hilali mockingly said.
The chief judge emphasised that complaints are handled with appropriate attention and insisted that the police make sure that blasphemy laws are not abused for private advantage.
