Minority rights activists have voiced serious concerns over the prolonged imprisonment of Anwar Kenneth, a mentally unstable prisoner who has languished on death row for more than 23 years following his conviction on a blasphemy accusation.
Despite his fragile mental health, he has been kept in confinement with his legs shackled, highlighting grave issues of justice and human dignity. They have urged the authorities to ensure that Anwar Kenneth receives immediate and adequate psychiatric treatment, as recommended by the medical board, and to expedite the legal proceedings of his appeal pending before the Supreme Court, ensuring a fair and just resolution to his case.
Anwar Kenneth was accused of sending objectionable letters containing alleged derogatory remarks to various religious scholars, ambassadors, and heads of state. Consequently, an FIR (No. 251/2001) was lodged at Gawalmandi Police Station, Lahore, which led to his arrest and subsequent trial under Section 295-C of the Pakistan Penal Code.
In 2002, an additional sessions judge in Lahore awarded him the death penalty and imposed a fine of 500,000 rupees. Following the verdict, he was sent to prison, where he has remained ever since. In 2014, a two-member bench of the Lahore High Court upheld the trial court's verdict.
Throughout the legal proceedings, Anwar Kenneth consistently refused legal assistance, claiming that "God is his counsel." Consequently, the case progressed without a proper defense, further complicating his right to a fair trial. Despite multiple attempts to appoint state lawyers, five different legal counsels recused themselves from representing him, citing the sensitivity of the case.
On 24 January 2023, a three-member bench of the Supreme Court took up the application and acknowledged the procedural challenges in the case, directing the Pakistan Bar Council to arrange legal representation for Anwar Kenneth in the interest of justice. In March 2024, following representation by a court-appointed lawyer, the Supreme Court sought the opinion of religious institutions on the case.
In December 2024, Anwar Kenneth was transferred from Faisalabad Central Jail to Lahore Central Jail, where he underwent a psychiatric evaluation at the Punjab Institute of Mental Health (PIMH), Lahore. A medical board recently declared that Anwar Kenneth is suffering from "Bipolar Affective Disorder, currently Hypomanic," and recommended his admission to PIMH for treatment.
According to minority rights activists, the case of Anwar Kenneth highlights a pressing concern regarding the treatment of individuals with mental illness within the criminal justice system, particularly in cases involving blasphemy accusations.