{"id":86792,"date":"2026-03-18T08:52:39","date_gmt":"2026-03-18T07:52:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/?p=86792"},"modified":"2026-03-26T17:32:26","modified_gmt":"2026-03-26T16:32:26","slug":"christian-father-targeted-by-pakistans-blasphemy-business-group-faces-possible-death-penalty","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/news\/christian-father-targeted-by-pakistans-blasphemy-business-group-faces-possible-death-penalty","title":{"rendered":"Christian Father Targeted by Pakistan\u2019s \u201cBlasphemy Business Group\u201d Faces Possible Death Penalty"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"86792\" class=\"elementor elementor-86792\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-685b0a8b elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"685b0a8b\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-a31aced\" data-id=\"a31aced\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5f2aae8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5f2aae8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul><li><p>Christian sanitation worker falsely accused under Pakistan\u2019s blasphemy laws and imprisoned for over 3 years could receive the death penalty; ADF International supports his defence\u00a0<\/p><\/li><li><p>Case highlights growing concern over organized groups trapping innocent people\u00a0through fabricated\u00a0blasphemy accusations\u00a0<\/p><\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3225058e elementor-widget elementor-widget-theme-post-featured-image elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"3225058e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"theme-post-featured-image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"330\" src=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/PR-Banner-Pakistan-PR.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-86794\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/PR-Banner-Pakistan-PR.png 640w, https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/PR-Banner-Pakistan-PR-300x155.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1502afd1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1502afd1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">ISLAMABAD (10 March 2026)\u00a0<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u2013\u00a0A Pakistani Christian father accused under the country\u2019s\u00a0draconian\u00a0blasphemy laws is awaiting a potential death penalty verdict in a case that raises serious concerns about religious freedom and the\u00a0exploitation of blasphemy accusations by organized networks.\u00a0The trial proceedings concerning Pakistani Christian Ishtiaq Saleem have reached a critical stage, with the court completing hearings relating to false blasphemy-charges against Saleem,\u00a0while proceedings continue for his co-accused.\u00a0ADF International\u00a0is\u00a0supporting Saleem\u2019s\u00a0defence\u00a0through allied lawyers in Pakistan.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Saleem, 34, a Christian sanitation worker and father from Islamabad, was arrested in November 2022 after being accused of downloading allegedly blasphemous material on social media, a claim he denies. If convicted under Pakistan\u2019s blasphemy laws, he could face the death penalty. Saleem\u2019s trial\u00a0has concluded, but proceedings involving co-accused Muhammad Umair are still ongoing, meaning the court is\u00a0likely\u00a0to issue a verdict\u00a0when\u00a0those hearings conclude.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-40f5cc22 elementor-blockquote--skin-border elementor-widget elementor-widget-blockquote\" data-id=\"40f5cc22\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"blockquote.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<blockquote class=\"elementor-blockquote\">\n\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-blockquote__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\u201cIshtiaq committed no wrong and was simply living his life as a Christian in Pakistan when he was arrested. He has now spent three years behind bars, separated from his family. <span style=\"color: #AF272F\"> No one should face the threat of death or years in prison based on fabricated accusations of blasphemy. <\/span> Cases like this illustrate the immense pressure faced by Christians and religious minorities in Pakistan.\"\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-q-footer\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<cite class=\"elementor-blockquote__author\">- Tehmina Arora, Director of Advocacy, Asia, at ADF International<\/cite>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1e869652 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1e869652\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span class=\"TextRun SCXW229911375 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW229911375 BCX0\">&#8220;Blasphemy laws create a culture of violence and <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW229911375 BCX0\">discrimination and\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW229911375 BCX0\">must be repealed<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW229911375 BCX0\">.<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW229911375 BCX0\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun SCXW229911375 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW229911375 BCX0\">Ishtiaq must be freed, and Pakistan must move toward a culture that respects and protects religious freedom for all,\u201d continued<\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun SCXW229911375 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW229911375 BCX0\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun SCXW229911375 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW229911375 BCX0\">Tehmina Arora<\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun SCXW229911375 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW229911375 BCX0\">.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-6cd2db29 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"6cd2db29\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-79788193\" data-id=\"79788193\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bed7bf5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"bed7bf5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Saleem, who was 31 years old at the time of his arrest in 2022, has\u00a0suffered\u00a0in prison\u00a0while the case has moved slowly through the courts. His bail applications have been repeatedly rejected by lower courts as well as by the Supreme Court of Pakistan. The Supreme Court\u00a0previously ordered the trial court to\u00a0expedite\u00a0proceedings, which\u00a0are currently taking place\u00a0before a special court in Islamabad.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><h6><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Making a business out of false blasphemy accusations<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h6><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The case has drawn attention because it involves the so-called\u00a0Blasphemy\u00a0Business\u00a0Group\u2014an organized network accused of\u00a0fabricating blasphemy accusations\u00a0to entrap individuals\u00a0for the purpose of\u00a0blackmail and extortion.\u00a0According to a\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/nchr.gov.pk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Blasphemy-Report-Oct-2024.pdf\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">report by Pakistan\u2019s\u00a0<\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"none\">National Commission on Human Rights<\/span><\/i><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, more than 450 people have been targeted through\u00a0similar schemes, contributing to a dramatic surge in blasphemy accusations in recent years.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The network includes lawyers and individuals who\u00a0reportedly work\u00a0in coordination with the cybercrime unit of the Federal Investigation Agency\u00a0to bring these construed cases before the courts. In Saleem\u2019s case, the lead prosecution counsel, Rao Abdur\u00a0Rahim,\u00a0is the head of\u00a0the\u00a0Group, raising serious concerns about the fairness of the proceedings.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201cOrganized groups that exploit blasphemy accusations to target innocent people undermine the rule of law and put\u00a0Christians and other\u00a0vulnerable communities at grave risk,\u201d<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0continued\u00a0<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Arora<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">.\u00a0<\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201cThe international community must pay attention to cases like this and call for justice and accountability.\u201d<\/span><\/i><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">ADF International and its allied lawyers support Saleem\u2019s case. <span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW116679384 BCX0\">They\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW116679384 BCX0\">remain<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW116679384 BCX0\">\u00a0hopeful that the\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW116679384 BCX0\">trial has exposed\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW116679384 BCX0\">signi<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW116679384 BCX0\">ficant<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW116679384 BCX0\">\u00a0weaknesses in the prosecution\u2019s case<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW116679384 BCX0\">\u00a0and the\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW116679384 BCX0\">misuse<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW116679384 BCX0\">\u00a0of the blasphemy laws to exhort and har<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW116679384 BCX0\">ass religious minorities<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW116679384 BCX0\">. T<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW116679384 BCX0\">hey are also hoping\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW116679384 BCX0\">that\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW116679384 BCX0\">Saleem\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW116679384 BCX0\">will\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW116679384 BCX0\">be<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW116679384 BCX0\">\u00a0acquitted\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW116679384 BCX0\">and able to return to his young family.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b319c03 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"b319c03\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-13817d9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"13817d9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tImages for free use in print or online in relation to this story only\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5aea5d7e elementor-widget elementor-widget-gallery\" data-id=\"5aea5d7e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" 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data-elementor-lightbox-slideshow=\"5aea5d7e\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"Ishtiaq Saleem\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6ODY3OTksInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOlwvXC9hZGZpbnRlcm5hdGlvbmFsLm9yZ1wvd3AtY29udGVudFwvdXBsb2Fkc1wvMjAyNlwvMDNcL0lzaHRpYXEtU2FsZWVtLTMucG5nIiwic2xpZGVzaG93IjoiNWFlYTVkN2UifQ%3D%3D\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-gallery-image elementor-gallery-item__image\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Ishtiaq-Saleem-3.png\" data-width=\"685\" data-height=\"548\" aria-label=\"\" role=\"img\" ><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-gallery-item__overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"e-gallery-item elementor-gallery-item elementor-animated-content\" href=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Tehmina_Arora_400x400.webp\" data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-slideshow=\"5aea5d7e\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"Tehmina Arora 400x400\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6ODEwMzQsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOlwvXC9hZGZpbnRlcm5hdGlvbmFsLm9yZ1wvd3AtY29udGVudFwvdXBsb2Fkc1wvMjAyNVwvMTFcL1RlaG1pbmFfQXJvcmFfNDAweDQwMC53ZWJwIiwic2xpZGVzaG93IjoiNWFlYTVkN2UifQ%3D%3D\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-gallery-image elementor-gallery-item__image\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Tehmina_Arora_400x400.webp\" data-width=\"400\" data-height=\"400\" aria-label=\"\" role=\"img\" ><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-gallery-item__overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Christian sanitation worker falsely accused under Pakistan\u2019s blasphemy laws and imprisoned for over 3 years could receive the death penalty; ADF International supports his defence\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":86794,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"give_campaign_id":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[197,81,29,1547,30,27,271],"class_list":["post-86792","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-asia","tag-blasphemy-laws","tag-christian-persecution","tag-ishtiaq-saleem","tag-pakistan","tag-religious-freedom","tag-tehmina-arora"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.3 (Yoast SEO v27.3) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Christian Father Targeted by Pakistan\u2019s \u201cBlasphemy Business Group\u201d Faces Possible Death Penalty<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Christian sanitation worker falsely accused under Pakistan\u2019s blasphemy laws and imprisoned for over 3 years could receive the death penalty; ADF International supports his defence\u00a0\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/en-gb\/news\/christian-father-targeted-by-pakistans-blasphemy-business-group-faces-possible-death-penalty\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Christian Father Targeted by Pakistan\u2019s \u201cBlasphemy Business Group\u201d Faces Possible Death Penalty\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Christian sanitation worker falsely accused under Pakistan\u2019s blasphemy laws and imprisoned for over 3 years could receive the death penalty; ADF International supports his defence\u00a0\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" 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