Rawalpindi: Zafar Bhatti, a Pakistani Christian and the longest-serving blasphemy prisoner in Pakistan’s history, has been wrongfully convicted in a case that has sparked widespread concern among human rights advocates. In 2022, after years of unjust imprisonment, he was sentenced to death on false blasphemy charges, accused of sending blasphemous text messages.

Throughout his ordeal, Zafar has vehemently maintained his innocence, insisting that he was framed due to religious discrimination and deep-seated hostility toward Pakistan’s Christian minority. His case is yet another example of how blasphemy laws are weaponized against vulnerable religious communities, leading to severe injustices without due process.

Recent Update:

A critical hearing was scheduled for 21st October 2024 at Lahore High Courts, Rawalpindi Bench, during which both legal teams were expected to present their final arguments. However, the session was derailed when the complainant’s counsel, Syed Rifaqat Hussain Shah, failed to appear and instead sent his assistant to request a delay until 11:00 AM. Justice Ch. Abdul Aziz denied the request and ordered the complainant’s counsel to be fully prepared for the next hearing, set for 22nd January 2025.

On 22nd January 2025, the BACA team and Saif Ul Malook, the solicitor representing Zafar Bhatti, attended the hearing before Justice Sadiq Mehmud Khuram. However, to their disappointment, the judge rescheduled the hearing without allowing any proceedings to take place.

The court has yet to announce a new date for the rescheduled hearing.

Despite the continued delays, Saif Ul Malook remains optimistic:

“I am very hopeful that it won’t take long now, and Zafar will be released very soon. We simply need the case tio be heard in a court.”

Juliet Chowdhry, Trustee for British Asian Christian Association, said:

“Zafar Bhatti is an innocent man who has already endured over 11 years behind bars for a crime he did not commit. The Lahore High Court’s repeated postponements and failure to deliver justice reflect the deep-rooted bias against Christians that exists even within the highest levels of Pakistan’s judiciary. This is not just about ignorance at the grassroots level—prejudice and discrimination against minorities are embedded in the very institutions meant to uphold justice. Every delay in Zafar’s acquittal is a further indictment of a legal system that continues to fail its most vulnerable citizens.”

Urgent Appeal: Help Us Fight for Justice for Zafar Bhatti

For over three years, the British Asian Christian Association (BACA) has provided legal representation for Zafar Bhatti, a Pakistani Christian wrongfully imprisoned for over 11 years on false blasphemy charges. Despite his innocence, Zafar remains behind bars, trapped in a judicial system that continues to delay his acquittal.

Zafar’s wife has endured unimaginable hardship, struggling without her husband while facing ongoing threats and financial insecurity. For nearly a decade, BACA has been her lifeline, providing essential financial support to help her survive.