Lahore Court sentences four convicts to death in FIA blasphemy case

An Additional Sessions Court in Lahore on October 17, 2026, convicted four accused persons in a high-profile blasphemy case

LAHORE:  An Additional Sessions Court in Lahore on October 17, 2026, convicted four accused persons in a high-profile blasphemy case registered by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), awarding them death sentences under Section 295-C of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), subject to confirmation by the Lahore High Court.

Additional Sessions Judge Nusrat Ali Siddiqui Malik announced the verdict in The State versus Tayyab Bin Arif and others, registered under FIR No. C-104/22 at the FIA Cyber Crime Reporting Centre (CCRC), Lahore.

The court convicted Muhammad Shoaib Sarwar, Arslan Akram, Saqib Ali and Hassan Raza after concluding that the prosecution had established the charges against them beyond a reasonable doubt.

In its ruling, the court observed that forensic evidence, despite procedural shortcomings, was sufficient to support the convictions.

According to the court proceedings, Arslan Akram, Muhammad Shoaib Sarwar and Saqib Ali appeared in police custody alongside their counsel, Usman Bhatti Advocate. Hassan Raza was also present in police custody, while Yasir Hussain Advocate represented the complainant.

The court noted that accused Fatima Jahangir had died, while Tayyab Bin Arif had been declared a proclaimed offender.

Under Section 11 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), 2016, each convict was sentenced to seven years of rigorous imprisonment and fined Rs100,000. Failure to pay the fine will result in an additional month of simple imprisonment.

Under Section 295-A of the PPC, each was awarded 10 years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs100,000. The court also imposed life imprisonment under Section 295-B and three years of imprisonment, along with a Rs100,000 fine, under Section 298-A.

The most severe punishment was awarded under Section 295-C of the PPC, under which all four convicts were sentenced to death and fined Rs500,000 each. Non-payment of the fine will lead to an additional six months of simple imprisonment.

However, the court acquitted the accused of charges under Sections 120-B and 34 of the PPC, observing that the prosecution’s evidence indicated that the offences had been committed individually rather than as part of a criminal conspiracy or common intention.

The benefit of Section 382-B of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) was also extended to the convicts. The court directed that the substantive sentences would run concurrently, except for imprisonment imposed in default of payment of fines.

Regarding the death sentences, the court ordered that the punishment would be subject to confirmation by the Lahore High Court under Section 374 of the CrPC. The relevant death reference will be forwarded to the High Court for consideration.

The convicts were informed of their right to challenge the verdict before the Lahore High Court within 30 days. They were subsequently sent to jail to serve their sentences, with the necessary warrants issued.

The court also directed the concerned court official to transmit the death reference to the High Court for confirmation of the capital punishment.