Lahore High Court overturns life sentence in Holy Quran desecration case
Lahore High Court overturns life sentence of Shahid al-Rahman in Holy Quran desecration case, citing evidence of mental illness and witness testimony
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The Lahore High Court has overturned a life sentence against Shahid al-Rahman, convicted in a case involving the alleged desecration of the Holy Quran.
Justice Tariq Mahmood Bajwa cited evidence of mental illness and prosecution witnesses who said they had not witnessed the alleged act.
Why did the Lahore High Court overturn the life sentence?
The court set aside the life sentence on the grounds of the appellant’s mental disability, overturning the punishment imposed by the trial court. It weighed testimony on al-Rahman’s mental condition and accounts from two prosecution witnesses who had not personally seen the alleged desecration.
Other witness accounts described him as mentally ill and largely confined to his home. Witnesses also testified that he would throw stones at people visiting a mosque and at his own children, the ruling said.
What was the case against Shahid al-Rahman?
Justice Bajwa allowed an appeal by al-Rahman, who was sentenced to life imprisonment by an additional sessions judge on December 20, 2025, according to the high court’s ruling.
The case was registered at Sarai Alamgir police station on January 26, 2022, over allegations of Holy Quran desecration.
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