SARGODHA, PAKISTAN: A teenage Christian boy in Sargodha has been in prison on blasphemy charges for over a year, despite being declared a juvenile by a court, with appeals against his arrest facing unnecessary delays.
Akash Karamat, who was arrested on August 27, 2023, is accused under Section 295-C of Pakistan’s blasphemy laws, which prohibit acts that insult the Prophet Muhammad. He was arrested along with a co-accused, 35-year-old Zamran. Karamat was 17-year-old at the time of his arrest.
According to Karamat’s lawyer, Asad Jamal, three separate cases have been registered against the accused based solely on suspicion.
In July, following multiple hearings over four months, the court confirmed Karamat’s juvenile status, making him the first minor charged under this specific blasphemy law in such a manner.
The defense counsel told Dissent Today that Karamat was not mentioned in the initial complaint and was only implicated weeks later without reasonable grounds for the allegations. The reliance on the complainant’s delayed supplementary statements has led courts to consider the charges weak, per the counsel.
He added that the police had all the records to declare the accused a juvenile from the very beginning, but they didn’t because, in such a case, he would be entitled to the leniency granted to juveniles under the Juvenile Justice System Act, including the right to bail.
Despite qualifying for bail due to his juvenile status, Karamat’s petitions have been denied by the trial court, resulting in his continued detention as his case is now under review by the Lahore High Court.
Karamat’s lawyer stated that his ongoing incarceration violates multiple rights outlined in the Constitution of Pakistan, including the right to liberty, a fair trial, dignity, and freedom from discrimination.
The city of Sargodha, situated in Punjab province, has recently witnessed heightened tension concerning Christian minorities, especially amidst anti-Christian riots in nearby Faisalabad. The timing of Karamat’s accusations coincides with a surge in blasphemy-related violence in the region, including incidents such as the lynching of a Christian man in Jaranwala in 2023.
Prior to his arrest, Karamat was a student, and his family remains committed to his education, having already deposited admission fees for him to continue his studies as a private candidate.
