Siblings acquitted in blasphemy case after 20 years
• SC sets aside death sentences upheld by LHC • Observes findings on mental illness raise doubts about culpability ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Saturday acquitted two brothers in a blasphemy case under Section 295-C of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), setting aside their death sentences earlier upheld by the Lahore High Court (LHC) over a decade ago. A three-judge SC bench, headed by Chief…
The Supreme Court in Pakistan has acquitted two brothers accused of blasphemy after holding them in detention for 20 years. The verdict overturned their death sentences, which had been imposed by the Lahore High Court in 2015. Liaqat Ali and Umar Draz were convicted in 2006 and sentenced to death, though both brothers claimed they were suffering from mental illness at the time of the alleged crime.
The Supreme Court examined three psychiatric assessments of the brothers, which concluded that both were suffering from bipolar disorder. Despite their mental illness being acknowledged, the court ruled that the brothers still had the necessary mental capacity to understand the nature of their actions. The court emphasized that the brothers' mental illness should be taken into account, but not as a complete exoneration.
Instead, it stated that the accused had spent a significant amount of time in prison and that their mental state should be considered as evidence of their lack of intent.
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