Families of blasphemy accused protest in Lahore demanding fair trials

Families of individuals accused in blasphemy cases protested Tuesday outside the Lahore Press Club, demanding fair trials and the immediate commencement of an inquiry commission ordered by the Islamabad High Court.

The families, who traveled from cities across Punjab, said they gather in Lahore every Tuesday to call for the release of their relatives. The demonstration was held outside the press club after organizers were denied permission to hold a news conference inside.

Family members told Nukta their loved ones were detained without committing any crime. Some said they have been protesting for years — in certain cases since 2017 — seeking justice.

Protestors claimed most arrests stemmed from alleged honeytrap schemes in which victims were lured through explicit messages or promises of employment, according to the families.

Visible distress

Visibly distressed, protesters welcomed the high court's order to form an investigative commission but expressed frustration that a stay order has prevented it from beginning work.

The families said their relatives had not committed blasphemy and vowed that if such charges were ever proven, they would hand them over to authorities themselves.

Protesters appealed to President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and Field Marshal Asim Munir to intervene.

The Islamabad High Court ordered the commission's formation in July after families of 101 accused individuals filed a petition citing a leaked Punjab Police report alleging a network of private citizens and law enforcement officials had entrapped young people in fabricated cases. A two-member bench later suspended the ruling pending appeals.