Blasphemy accused not released despite bail by court

LAHORE:Despite being granted post-arrest bail by an Additional Sessions Judge in July 2024, Muhammad Yaseen has been languishing in prison for over five months.

Yaseen was initially arrested in 2020 on blasphemy charges under Section 295-B of the Pakistan Penal Code. Following an investigation, his trial commenced, yet no witnesses were presented by the prosecution over the span of four years to substantiate the charges.

This failure to produce witnesses led to significant delays in the trial. In a critical development, the Additional Sessions Judge granted Yaseen bail on July 18, 2024, citing statutory grounds. Advocate Sarmad Ali, representing the petitioner, successfully argued that his client had been in judicial lock-up for an extensive period without any delay caused by his actions.

Furthermore, the counsel highlighted the prosecution's inability to present witnesses for testimony despite multiple opportunities. The prosecution, represented by the Assistant District Public Prosecutor (ADPP) and the complainant's counsel, contested the bail plea but failed to convince the court. After examining the case records, the court observed that the delay in concluding the trial was not due to any omission or action by Yaseen.

Consequently, the court granted Yaseen post-arrest bail upon submission of Rs100,000 in bail bonds, along with a surety of equivalent value. Advocacy groups have expressed concern over his prolonged detention, emphasising the systemic challenges in ensuring timely implementation of judicial decision. Calls for immediate administrative intervention to secure Muhammad Yaseen's release continue to grow louder, urging authorities to address the apparent lapse.

Saira Ali Ahmed human rights defender as well as civil society activist urged that individuals like Yaseen and others must be given fair trial under Article 10 A of the Constitution of Pakistan to ensure that it is getting implemented even for the poor and needy. Generally, people who get bail from the court stay in jail as no one comes for submitting surety bond, said Saira.