A pastor who was acquitted of blasphemy charges after languishing in prison for 13 years has tragically died two days after his release, according to human rights groups.
Pastor Zafar Bhati, 62, founder of Jesus World Mission Church Ministries, died of cardiac arrest at his home in Rawalpindi, Punjab, on Sunday (October 5), rights group British Asian Christian Association (BACA) announced. BACA provided legal representation for the pastor and also supported his ailing 76-year-old wife, Nawab Bibi. he had no children.
Bhatti was released from Adiala District Jail on Wednesday after the Rawalpindi Bench of the Lahore High Court quashed his blasphemy conviction in court on October 2. Bhati was arrested in July 2012 after an Islamist cleric accused him of sending text messages disparaging Islam’s prophet Muhammad.
He was charged under Section 295-C of Pakistan’s tough blasphemy law, which mandates the death penalty for insulting Muhammad. The court of first instance sentenced him to life imprisonment on May 3, 2017, but the sentence was upgraded to the death penalty in 2022.
“Although his earthly journey has ended, Mr. Zafar’s faith, perseverance, and ultimate vindication stand as powerful evidence of hope in Christ amidst persecution,” BACA said in a statement, adding that it arranged for his burial in the southern Pakistani port city of Karachi, fulfilling his final wishes.
The group said Bhatti’s heart condition had been a serious concern for several years, and underlying health conditions such as diabetes were taking a toll.
“A medical assessment in 2019 showed that he had already experienced two minor strokes and was at significant risk of having another heart attack,” BACA said. “He reportedly suffered another seizure in 2020. In 2022, Mr. Zafar experienced severe complications, including vomiting blood after receiving medication from the prison medical team, so our defense team sought his release on medical grounds.”
Prison medical staff reportedly found that by early 2025 his heart function had deteriorated dramatically, to around 15 percent, and that there were very limited treatments available.
Blasphemy remains a serious crime punishable by death in Pakistan. The state has not executed anyone under the law, but the mere accusation has sparked mob violence that has led to dozens of deaths over the past decade. Defendants often endure long pretrial detention, unfair trials, and constant threats of extrajudicial killings.
According to the 2024 report of the National Commission for Justice and Peace (NCJP), a total of 17 Christians, including six women, were charged under the blasphemy law in 2024, all from Punjab. The same report records 23 Muslim victims.
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) noted in its 2024-2025 report that prisoners accused of blasphemy face special risks and are often kept in isolation to protect them from attacks by other prisoners.
Human Rights Watch said in a June 9 report that Pakistan’s blasphemy laws are systematically abused to target religious minorities, dispossess the poor, and settle personal and economic disputes.
The 29-page report, “Land-grab conspiracy: Exploiting Pakistan’s blasphemy laws for intimidation and profit,” states that “blasphemy charges are increasingly being weaponized to incite mob violence, displace vulnerable communities, and confiscate property with impunity.”
The report said in some cases blasphemy accusations were used to target business rivals or force them to transfer property. It added that the law’s broad and vague provisions allow it to be exploited with minimal or no evidence, creating a climate of fear among vulnerable people.
HRW criticized Pakistan’s criminal justice system for enabling these abuses. Authorities rarely held perpetrators of mob violence accountable, but police often failed to protect defendants or investigate charges, the report said. In some cases, the intervening officers themselves may face threats. Political and religious activists accused of inciting violence often evade arrest or are acquitted due to lack of political will or intimidation.
“Past failures to prosecute those responsible for incitement and attacks have emboldened those who use these laws to extort and intimidate in the name of religion,” said Patricia Gosman, HRW’s associate director for Asia.
He stressed that the Pakistani government should urgently amend its blasphemy laws to prevent its weaponization.
Pakistan ranks eighth on Open Doors’ 2025 World Watch List as the most difficult place to be a Christian.
