Islamabad police have registered a case against a college student under sections 295-A and 298-A over alleged blasphemous remarks against companions of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
The case registered at Shalimar police station on the complaint of a teacher. Section 295-A pertains to deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs, whereas Section 298-A concerns derogatory remarks against holy personages.
According to the FIR, some students reported the accused after they found “derogatory remarks” written on his coursebook next to the name of a certain companion of the prophet (PBUH). The students engaged in an argument with the student possessing the book, it added.
The owner of the book hurt the religious sentiments of thousands of people and students, the FIR claimed.
Last week, a National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) manager was gunned down by a security guard in Punjab’s Khushab district over blasphemy allegations.
The victim, Malik Imran Hanif, was first taken to a local hospital, however, the nature of his gunshot wounds was so severe, he was shifted to Services Hospital in Lahore, where he succumbed to his injuries.
Human rights groups say blasphemy laws are often misused to persecute minorities or even against Muslims to settle personal rivalries. Such accusations can end up in lynchings or street vigilantism.
