Shoukat Acquitted in Blasphemy Case
Islamabad:
Shoukat Javed, a 62-year-old Christian from Attock, was recently acquitted of baseless blasphemy charges. After a series of court delays, the complainant, Muhammad Mushtaq, informed the court that he had “forgiven” Shoukat and wished to withdraw the case, leading to the court disposing of the matter.
“Through my work with CAPC, I visited Shoukat at his modest living quarters and witnessed his upright and simple lifestyle firsthand,” CAPC President Nadeem Bhatti.
It has become clear that these charges were a targeted attempt by a Muslim neighbour to remove Shoukat from his role supervising the local Christian cemetery. Shoukat had previously asked the neighbour to stop using the cemetery as a garbage dump, which appears to have motivated the false allegations.
This case is a stark example of the escalating misuse of blasphemy laws in Pakistan to settle personal grievances and target religious minorities. Recent reports, including those from Human Rights Watch and Open Doors, continue to highlight how these laws enable persecution and foster an atmosphere of fear.
While we are relieved that Shoukat has been acquitted, his experience underscores the significant challenges faced by the vulnerable, persecuted Christian community. We remain committed to advocating for those unjustly accused and highlighting these human rights violations.
A rights watchdog recorded 344 new blasphemy cases in Pakistan in 2024, reflecting an escalating misuse of the laws. The blatant weaponization of blasphemy laws continued to enable persecution, religious intolerance and widespread human rights violations,” the report stated. The same report documented at least 2,793 people accused of blasphemy between 1987 and 2024, with at least 104 killed extrajudicially following such allegations between 1994 and 2024. In a June 2025 report titled “A Conspiracy to Grab the Land: Exploiting Pakistan’s Blasphemy Laws for Blackmail and Profit,” Human Rights Watch (HRW) said the laws are frequently used to target religious minorities, settle personal grievances, and, in some cases, seize property.
The report warned that blasphemy accusations can escalate a violent mob attack, displace vulnerable communities and foster an atmosphere of fear, particularly among minority groups. Although courts have occasionally acquitted defendants or granted bail where evidence is found lacking, such outcomes remain relatively rare given the highly sensitive nature of blasphemy allegations in Pakistan. International advocacy groups continue to rank Pakistan among the countries where religious minorities face significant challenges. In its 2026 World Watch List, Open Doors ranked Pakistan eighth among the 50 countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian.