RAWALPINDI - A Sessions Court on Wednesday handed down death penalty to a Muslim woman on blasphemy charge under section 295C of Pakistan Penal Code (PPC).

The court has also awarded her 20 years imprisonment besides imposing a fine of Rs 150,000.

“It has proved beyond reasonable doubt that accused Aneeqa Ateeq wrote and distributed the writings (on WhatsApp) which are derogatory in respect of Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and Ummul Mumineen Hazrat Ayesha (RA) on other mobile numbers.

The accused failed to prove her innocence. Accused Aneeqa Ateeq is convicted under section 295-C PPC and sentenced to death and fine of Rs 50000. She is to be hanged by her neck till she is dead,” ruled Additional District & Sessions Judge (ADSJ) Adnan Mushtaq in his verdict.

The judge   said accused is also convicted under section 295-A of PPC and sentenced to 10 years imprisonments along fine of Rs 50000. In case of default in payment of fine the convict shall undergo   imprisonment of six months. The accused is further convicted under section 298-A of PPC and sentenced to 3 years rigorous imprisonment along fine of Rs 50000 and she will serve more six months behind the bars in case of non payment of fine.    Aneeqa Ateeq was also convicted under section 11 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act 2016 and sentenced to 7 years rigours imprisonment with fine of Rs 50000.

Suspect in Rawalpindi found guilty of wilfully spreading blasphemous contents

Police Station FIA (Cyber Crime Circle) Rawalpindi had registered the FIR on 13/5/2020 against the woman on the complaint of Hassnat Farooq, a resident of Mohallah Kamalabad. The woman, a house wife, was accused of   uploading/transmitting/ disseminating /spreading blasphemous material/contents i.e. narration/speech/pictures in an organized manner wilfully defiled and outraged religious feelings belief by using derogatory, disgraceful, immoral filthy comments/remarks/representations in respect of the sacred name of the Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (SAW) and Ummul Mumineen Hazrat Ayesha (RA) on her whatsApp status and further transmitted the said blasphemous material to other cell numbers.

The woman’s counsel had argued that the suspect was of unsound mind at the time of occurrence, and the magistrate concerned had ordered mental examination of the suspect which remained pending without any fault on the part of the suspect.

The defence counsel further stated her client is innocent and should be released.

A state prosecutor submitted before the court that the prosecution proved its case on the basis of oral and documentary evidence.

After completion of arguments of all the parties, the ADSJ of Special FIA Court Adnan Mushtaq awarded the death sentence and 20 years imprisonments to the accused woman.