Islamabad:
The Superior Court of Islamabad (IHC) has provided detailed reasons that explain why the formation of an investigation commission is necessary to investigate cases of blasphemy, citing serious concerns about the entrapment, official negligence and deaths from custody.
In a nine -page written judgment created by Judge Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan after 42 hearings in a blasphemy case, the court emphasized the severity of the matter and the need for thorough investigation.
“Now there are about 400 FIR and some 700 accused in cases of online blasphemy, with a fair number of the defendants who claim entrapment that was never investigated. I am lost to understand what other matter would qualify as a general interest or one of vital concern for the public if it does not approve the statutory test,” says the ruling.
The Court justified the constitution of an investigation commission by pointing out the prolonged inaction of the Federal Government, despite the National Human Rights Commission (NCHR) in October 2024 that recommends the formation of a commission, or a JIT, to investigate the alleged existence of a gang related to blasphemy.
“The Federal Government’s inaction despite the January 2024 report of the Special Branch of the Punjab Police that appoints the members of the alleged gang and gives enough basis to justify a deeper investigation into the matter,” says the order.
The trial emphasizes that no investigation was never conducted to identify or question the mysterious girl known as ‘Imaan’, despite several defendants disconnected from different parts of the country that claimed to have been caught by her almost identically.
The court said it was essential to determine how such uniform claims could arise, and why this did not raise the red flags for the investigators.
“The sudden disappearance of that Imaan girl (real name Komal) of her marriage home and also of her parents’ house after her role was exposed during these procedures, and remains without tracking despite the efforts of Nccia/FIA by order of this court.”
The order continues: “The number in the use of IMAAN is connected to Rao Abdul Rahim, who, according to the special branch report, was the main person of the blasphemy gang.”
He also points out inconsistencies in how evidence was handled.
“Facebook IDS and passwords were delivered to the FIA in complaints that were used again in subsequent complaints without any explanation of the FIA or the plaintiffs about how these IDS and passwords were used by the plaintiffs in new FIR with the IDs already paid together with the passwords.”
The court also saw videos reproduced during the procedures, including one that shows the arrest of a defendant in FIR No. 52/2024 out of the Layah University by individuals in a white car.
“The registration number is true that Rao Abdul Rahim (although he denied in the court that the car was his) and the investigation record did not register his arrest, but, quite ridiculously, he recorded that, according to the report of the secret informant, the accused was out of the doors of the University of Leah, throughout the University of IO SETING OFTLE OUTSIDE OF THE GATES OF LAYY.
Other serious failures were also highlighted.
“The sincere admission of the investigation officers of the National Cybernetic Research Agency/FIA that, in many cases, did not carry out the detailed forensic evidence of the plaintiff’s devices, which is quite inexplicable given the position of the entrapment taken by several defendants.”
“The absence of any convincing explanation of the FIA/Nccia officials, who attended the hearings at all times, on why an investigation was never carried out to identify the original creators of the blasphemous content.”
The Court also pointed out that the key legal concept of Rea men, the criminal intention, was never properly examined in most FIRs: “The catching position, which is equivalent to the absence of a real man, was never properly and completely investigated before the Challans were presented in many FIRS.”
He also raised concerns about procedural irregularities. “The videos are reproduced in the Court that show some members of the alleged gang that made private arrests, who were made by FIA officers in the investigation records, and who possibly led to the defendant’s phones in the hands of private persons, who cannot rule out the plantation of evidence in those phones or eliminate the input conversations by or in the case or to the knowledge of the requirements.” “
In one case, a defendant’s father appeared in a video claiming that the FIA demanded a bribe and that a case was recorded when he did not pay: “A video reproduced in the court with the poor father of a defendant who affirmed the demand for illegal gratification by the FIA and the accommodation of the FIR when he could not pay.”
The Court Also Documed A Troubling Pattern Involre Lahore, on The Basis of the Statement that has had carried out His Own Research and Found Rao Innocent, Evoid the Police’s Challan interim that shows a clear and admitted connection with the phone number that connects with Rao Abdul Rahim holding the last conversation with the deceased. “
Other worrying revelations include: “Rao Abdul Rahim employee gets through a woman in some chat groups that led to the complaint record.”
“The admission of the expert of the NCCIA that, in many FIR, it should also have carried out adequate detail forensic evidence of the plaintiff’s telephone, but it was never carried out.”
“The completion of the research, research and registration of some FIR on the same day in violation of the SOP of the FIA.”
The Court also questioned the legitimacy of an organization: “the so -called” Legal Blasphemia Commission “, presenting as an NGO, directed by Rao Abdul Rahim, when it is not registered in any applicable law or listed in any official database of the Pakistan stock exchange and values commission (SECP) or the Federal Revenue Board (FBR), Rendering Ot Wase and Activions Stateriled.
Even more tombs were deaths from custody.
“Four accused of blasphemy dying in prison, without a judicial or administrative investigation that takes place in those deaths of custody, with a video reproduced before the court that shows visible bruises and signs of torture that supposedly lead to their death while it is in custody.”
The order adds that “several other similar circumstances, whose details are recorded in the provisional orders of this case.”
The court concluded that “there is no doubt that this is really a matter of definitive public interest.”
Consequently, the Court ordered the Federal Government to constitute an investigation commission within 30 days, including the suggested members and the reference terms established in the previous order of the Court dated January 31, 2025. The Commission is to complete its procedures within four months.
The order also declared that the notification of the government established by the Commission must be submitted to the Court within 30 days. The Court office received instructions to place the file with the notification before the judge in Chambers.
“The position is aimed at transmitting copies of this order to the Secretary, Cabinet Division, with the address of moving the summary required to the federal government immediately.”
“The copies will also be transmitted to the offices of the Sage Attorney General and the General Lawyer, and other offices that may be relevant to the purpose of the diligent implementation of this order.”
The audience has been postponed until December 15.
