by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Chief International Correspondent
LAHORE, PAKISTAN (Worthy News) – In a “significant judgment welcomed by Pakistan’s Christian community and human rights advocates,” a court in Pakistan acquitted a blind Christian man who potentially faced the death penalty for blasphemy against Islam, a Christian advocate told Worthy News.
Sardar Mushtaq Gill confirmed that the Lahore Sessions Court acquitted Nadeem Masih, who had been charged under Section 295-C of the Pakistan Penal Code. “It is a blasphemy provision that carries the possibility of the death penalty,” Gill told Worthy News.
The verdict was delivered by Additional Sessions Judge Saad Salman Khan, bringing an end to months of legal uncertainty for the 49-year-old Christian laborer.
Masih, who is visually impaired, earned his livelihood by operating a weighing machine in Lahore’s Nawaz Sharif Park, charging visitors a nominal fee for its use.
According to his family and supporters, a dispute with individuals associated with the park eventually led to allegations of blasphemy. Christians say that blasphemy legislation is often misused to prosecute minorities in the Islamic nation.
COURT REJECTS ALLEGATIONS
Masih was arrested in October 2025 and remained in custody while the case proceeded through the courts.
His elderly mother, Martha Yousaf, said her son had long faced harassment because of his disability and Christian faith and maintained that the accusations were fabricated and rooted in personal hostility rather than any genuine religious offense.
After reviewing evidence presented by both sides, the court found insufficient grounds to sustain the charges and ordered Masih’s acquittal.
Pastor Imran Amanat, leader of LEAD Ministries, welcomed the ruling and thanked lawyers, supporters, and family members who stood by Masih throughout the ordeal.
Gill, an advocate and founder of LEAD Ministries Pakistan, also praised the decision, describing it as an encouraging example of judicial independence and adherence to the rule of law.
CONCERNS OVER BLASPHEMY LAWS
He stressed that blasphemy allegations must be supported by credible evidence rather than assumptions or external pressure and warned that false accusations can devastate lives, particularly among religious minorities and socially vulnerable people.
The case has again highlighted concerns over the misuse of Pakistan’s blasphemy laws. Human rights groups and religious freedom advocates have repeatedly warned that accusations are sometimes used to settle personal disputes, seize property, intimidate opponents, or target members of minority communities.
Even when charges are eventually dismissed, the accused often endure imprisonment, threats, social isolation, and lasting trauma.
For Christians supporting him, Masih’s acquittal underscores the challenges faced by religious minorities and the importance of an independent judiciary capable of delivering justice in highly sensitive cases.
PERSECUTION CONCERNS
Pakistan remains one of the most difficult places in the world to be a Christian. The country ranks eighth on the 2026 World Watch List of nations where Christians face the most severe persecution for their faith.
Christians in Pakistan face discrimination, abuse of blasphemy laws, forced conversions and marriages of Christian girls, and pressure from extremist groups and segments of society.
The acquittal of Nadeem Masih is therefore being viewed by Christians as a rare but significant victory for justice and due process in a country where blasphemy accusations can have life-altering consequences.
Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.