Islamabad [Pakistan], November 2 (ANI): A 49-year-old blind Christian man in Pakistan has been arrested on charges of blasphemy — a crime punishable by death — after being accused by a local Muslim of insulting Islam’s Prophet, sparking outrage among rights groups and the Christian community, Morning Star News reported.
The accused, Nadeem Masih, was detained in August after allegedly being framed by a group of men who had long harassed him, according to his 80-year-old mother, Martha Yousaf. She said her son, who earned a modest living operating a weighing scale at Lahore’s Model Town Park, was frequently bullied, extorted, and assaulted by local workers, including the complainant, Waqas Mazhar.
On August 21, when Masih protested being barred from setting up his stall, Mazhar and another man allegedly dragged him to the Model Town Police Station and accused him of blasphemy. Police later charged him under Section 295-C of Pakistan’s penal code, which carries the death penalty, according to the report.
Yousaf alleged that her blind son was tortured in custody and forced to confess to false charges. “Every time I meet him, my heart bleeds when he tells me how badly he is being treated, especially during court appearances,” she said. “They push him around despite knowing he is completely blind and has an iron rod in his right leg.”
Masih’s lawyer, Javed Sahotra, pointed out major discrepancies in the police report. The complaint claims officers were patrolling the park at 11 pm (local time) when they were alerted to the alleged crime, even though the park closes at 9 pm.
“However, the park’s gates close at 9 pm, and no one is allowed inside after that. Moreover, Masih had called the police helpline at 6 am to report mistreatment by the parking contractor and others but received no help,” Sahotra said. He confirmed that Masih was tortured in custody, calling it “inhumane treatment,” and urged authorities to take disciplinary action against the officers involved.
“It is very unfortunate that a blind person was subjected to such treatment by the police. We hope the government and senior officials will take notice of this high-handed behaviour and act against those responsible,” he added.
Naeem Yousaf, executive director of the Catholic Church’s National Commission for Justice and Peace (NCJP), condemned the arrest, describing Masih as “a victim of injustice and human indifference.” He said Pakistan’s blasphemy laws continue to be weaponised against minorities, particularly the poor and disabled.
“Masih kept going all these years despite being a target of harsh social attitudes that fail to recognise disabled people as human beings,” he said. “Already burdened by poverty, blindness, and social cruelty, he is now suffering even more behind bars — a victim of injustice and indifference.”
Human Rights Watch (HRW), in a recent report, also highlighted the widespread misuse of Pakistan’s blasphemy laws to settle personal disputes, seize property, and incite mob violence. The group said the laws are “vague and easily exploited,” while police often fail to protect the accused or prosecute violent mobs.
Pakistan currently ranks eighth on Open Doors’ 2025 World Watch List of countries where it is most dangerous to be a Christian. (ANI)
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