Imran Rehman has been languishing in Camp Jail Lahore for the last two months after a first information report (FIR) was lodged against him under charges of blasphemy and terrorism.
A 32-year-old Christian man was accused of posting blasphemous material in a WhatsApp group and was taken into custody by the Cyber Crime Wing of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).
As per the FIR, filed on September 14, 2022, Imran was booked under Section 11 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016, Sections 6, 7, 8, and 9 of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997, and Sections 295-A, 295-B, 298, and 109/34 of the Pakistan Penal Code.
Imran’s Family said that he is being severely tortured and forced to confess to an offense he has not committed. Imran, the father of two daughters, was the sole breadwinner for his family, and he was working in the Lahore Metro Bus ticket office.
Voice for Justice chairperson Joseph Jansen is pursuing a legal fight for Imran. He expressed hope that justice will be ensured and the innocent Christian man will reunite with his family. He vowed that he would leave no stone unturned in providing justice to Imran and his family.
A petition was filed through advocate Rana Abdul Hameed at the anti-terrorism court seeking the removal of terrorism charges against him.
Advocate Hameed said, "The accused has been labeled as a terrorist by adding terrorism charges against him even though he had not committed any terrorism act." "Being a defense counsel, I represented Imran in the anti-terrorism court, and while giving arguments before the judge, I pleaded that the terrorism charges should be removed against him and the case should be heard in the ordinary court. But the judge dismissed the petition. Now I will submit the petition in the Lahore High Court to eliminate terrorism charges against him," he added.
Jansen mentioned that the burden of proof for blasphemy accusations against any individual is on the accuser to establish malevolent intent; nevertheless, this requirement is not included in the law and is not taken into consideration during blasphemy prosecutions.