The 18-year-old Pakistan Christian was expected to be released on bail next week after being jailed for more than 17 months on a complaint with ASP, his lawyer said.
Akash Karamat won bail for one of three bliss cases filed against him on December 19th, and last week the judge gave him bail for two other cases. Ta. The order for release in the second case was issued Tuesday (February 18) with other orders expected next week, his lawyer, Asad Jamal, said.
Lahore High Court Judge Ashhad Jabd Gural granted bail on statutory basis in a lawsuit registered against him on 20 August 2023. ($358), Jamal said. In other cases, High Court Judge Shehram Salwar granted bail on Wednesday (February 19) for another case registered under Section 295-B on August 25, 2023.
Section 295-B relates to the Qur’an exhortation sec and is subject to life imprisonment, while Section 295-A provides for imprisonment of up to 10 years to hurt religious feelings.
Lahore High Court Judge Muhammadwaheed Khan on December 19th, in the most serious case registered on July 16th, 2023, multiple of the blasphemous laws, including the blasphemous death penalty and the carrying of life. In the section, Karamato has been granted bail. Imprisoned. A court court last July 20th declared that Christian was a juvenile at the time of his arrest.
Kalamat was initially arrested in a case registered with the Satellite Town Police in Salgoda District, Punjab on July 16, 2023, and later involved two more cases of different police stations based on mere suspicion, Jamal said. I stated.
Regarding bail in the second case, Jamal said Justice Goulal pointed out that Kalamat had not been named in the crime report and had been booked through the petitioner’s supplementary statement.
“The judge also observed that the petitioner was a juvenile on suspicion of the event, but surprisingly, despite more than a year and a half of his incarceration, Charan (charge sheet) was in court. It was not submitted. Jamal told Christian Daily International Morning Star News.
He added that the judge observed that calamats could not be held in prison indefinitely as a measure of prior punishment when early conclusions of the trial are not visible.
“The court has been entitled to statutory bail under section 497 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CRPC), as the court noted that the defendant is not liable for delays in the trial,” Jamal said, according to the section. , as there is no formal charge of adding in the case of doubt, the trial has not been concluded within two years, and the delay should not be attributed to the defendant and be released on bail.
Jamal asked Kalamat to be released on bail in the third case for similar reasons, he said.
“I also told Judge Sarwar that forensic reports on CCTV footage failed to establish the identity of my client’s facial features,” he said. “The judge accepted my argument and released bail for Kalamat’s release against a guarantee of 100,000 Pakistani rupee (USD 358).”
A detailed verdict will be issued by next week, he added.
Jamal explained the hostile circumstances during Judge Salwar’s court hearing and said that the petitioner’s legal team consists of a group of lawyers who impose profanity cases as an Islamic duty.
“These attorneys in the Khtam-e-Nabuwwat (Prophood Finality) Lawyers Forum tried their best to put pressure on the court, saying that the defendant fled after receiving bail and left the suit. ” he said.
Jamal said he would begin processing the order of Kalamat’s release as soon as the family arranges guaranteed debt in all three cases.
“Families are extremely poor and are forced to hide because of security risks in the case of blasphemy,” Jamal told Christian Daily International Morning Star News. “When Kalamat is released from prison and reunites with his family, they will need more protection.”
Akash Karamat Masih, father of Akash Karamat, had previously spoken about the difficulties the family has faced since police arrested their son on August 27, 2023.
“I made a living for my family through a tailing shop, but after Akash was arrested, we were forced to close it and leave the house to save it from violence.” “It We have been surviving from mouth to mouth ever since.”
Akash Karamat seced the Quran on August 16, 2023 by writing a blasphemous poster in the area of Sargoda, allegedly retaliated with attacks of multiple Christian churches and homes in Jalanwara, Faisalabad district. was criticized for this. I committed a blasphemy.
Pakistan ranked 8th on the Open Doors 2025 World Watchlist.
