The Islamabad High Court (IHC) directed the federal government to form a commission within one month to investigate and review how blasphemy laws are being implemented across Pakistan.
Justice Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan issued the order while hearing petitions calling for an inquiry into the handling of blasphemy related cases.
The court ruled that the commission must complete its work within four months of formation. If more time is needed, the commission can request an extension from the court.
A 2023 report by the National Commission for Human Rights revealed that 767 people mostly young men are currently imprisoned awaiting trial under blasphemy charges.
“This is a huge ray of hope and it’s the first time that the families have felt heard,” said lawyer Imaan Mazari, who represents many of the accused. “Youngsters have been falsely roped into cases of such a sensitive nature that the stigma will last forever even if they are acquitted.”
The Legal Commission on Blasphemy Pakistan (LCBP) remains the most active legal group prosecuting such cases.
