The Lahore High Court has rejected a bail application for a blind Christian man accused under Pakistan’s blasphemy laws, despite claims of significant inconsistencies in the prosecution’s case.
Justice Muhammad Jawad Zafar dismissed the petition on 4 February, refusing bail to 49-year-old Nadeem Masih. He has been in custody since 21 August and faces charges under Section 295-C of Pakistan’s penal code, which carries a mandatory death sentence for insulting the Prophet Muhammad.
Masih’s lawyer, Javed Sahotra, said the court declined bail on the grounds that the accused might abscond or attempt to influence witnesses if released. The defence had argued that discrepancies in the police report and prosecution testimony justified further judicial inquiry.
According to court documents, Masih was arrested at Model Town Park in Lahore. The First Information Report states that police officers were patrolling the park at 11 p.m. when they received information about alleged blasphemous remarks.
However, the defence challenged this account, noting that the park normally closes at 9 p.m. The lawyer also referred to call data records which he said indicate that neither the complainant nor Masih was present at the location at the time stated in the report.
Two prosecution witnesses reportedly told police that the alleged remarks were made on 9 August, nearly two weeks before Masih’s arrest. The defence has questioned why the accusation was not reported immediately, arguing that the delay raises doubts about the reliability of the claims.
During the hearing, the defence cited previous court rulings in which bail was granted in blasphemy cases when concerns arose about the credibility of witness testimony. However, the high court was not persuaded to grant relief in this instance.
Masih, who is completely blind, comes from a low-income Catholic family in Punjab Province. His 80-year-old mother, Martha Yousaf, said her son earned a modest income by operating a weighing scale for visitors at the park.
She alleged that a dispute with local contractors preceded his arrest. According to her account, he was prevented from setting up his stall, assaulted and taken to a police station, where he was later accused of blasphemy. The family also claims he was pressured in custody to confess to an offence he denies. Police have not publicly responded to these allegations.
Relatives say Masih was the sole provider for the household following the deaths of his father and another son. Despite his disability, he had completed his education and worked to support his elderly mother and other family members.
Pakistan’s blasphemy laws have long drawn criticism from international human rights organisations, which argue that they are sometimes misused to target religious minorities or settle personal disputes. Recent reports have warned that accusations can fuel intimidation, mob pressure and social exclusion, particularly against vulnerable communities.
Although courts have occasionally granted bail in cases where evidence appeared weak or disputed, such decisions remain rare due to strong public sensitivities surrounding blasphemy allegations.
Masih remains in custody as legal proceedings continue.
This is a rewritten version of the original article published on Morning Star News / Christian Daily International.
