ISLAMABAD: Rights Activists Demand Independent Probe into Blasphemy Cases Involving Children


At a press conference held at the National Press Club in Islamabad, prominent human rights lawyers and advocates called for the establishment of an independent investigation commission to address the plight of children entangled in blasphemy cases across Pakistan. The event was attended by Lawyer Usman Warraich, Advocate Rana Abdul Hameed, Advocate Iman Mazari, and the parents of affected children.

Advocate Usman Warraich revealed shocking statistics from a report by the Special Branch last year, indicating that a coordinated religious extremist group is deliberately entrapping Muslim youth by coaxing them into sharing blasphemous content online. The report highlighted that over 450 young Muslims have fallen victim to these false cases. Among them, over 150 are languishing in Adiala Jail, 170 in Lahore Camp Office Jail and Kot Lakhpat Jail, and 55 in Karachi Central Jail. Warraich emphasized the sinister strategy employed by the group, which recruits individuals to deceive and entrap innocent youths via social media.

“These individuals pose as friends, romantic interests, or job providers, luring unsuspecting victims to a Safe House in the G-8 area of Islamabad. Once there, they subject them to brutal torture, including hanging them upside down and beating them with sticks. Videos of these assaults are also made,” Warraich stated.

The group, comprising 25 to 30 members, systematically files complaints against victims after entrapping them. Each plaintiff is reportedly involved in entrapping over 20 young individuals and provides false addresses in First Information Reports (FIRs) to complicate investigations further. These acts of entrapment not only tarnish the lives of the victims but also undermine the credibility of blasphemy laws and their intended purpose.

The lawyers and parents of the affected children urged the government to take immediate action, including the formation of a neutral body to examine the cases and expose the systematic entrapment. They demanded the immediate suspension of all ongoing legal actions against entrapped minors until the investigation is concluded. Furthermore, they called for the release of children currently imprisoned under dubious charges as a matter of urgency.

Advocate Iman Mazari stressed the psychological and social toll these cases have on the victims and their families, urging authorities to prioritize justice and fairness over exploitation of laws. Rana Abdul Hameed warned that the misuse of blasphemy laws not only endangers the lives of innocent individuals but also erodes public trust in the judicial system. “The government must ensure that these laws are not weaponized for personal or political gains. An independent commission is essential to restore faith in our institutions,” he said.

The issue of blasphemy accusations has long been a contentious subject in Pakistan, often leading to violence, social ostracism, and miscarriages of justice. This new revelation of systemic exploitation further complicates an already sensitive matter. The call for an independent investigation commission is a significant step toward addressing this growing crisis. Without swift government intervention, the lives of hundreds of innocent children remain in jeopardy, and the exploitation of blasphemy laws will persist unabated.