Pakistani court orders live streaming of cyber blasphemy case hearings

A Pakistani court has ordered the live streaming of proceedings in a petition filed by 101 individuals accused in cyber blasphemy cases, seeking an inquiry commission to investigate the surge in such cases.

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) issued the order on Friday, and a detailed ruling by Justice Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan was published on the court's website on Monday.

The order stated that large crowds had gathered in the court corridors due to widespread public interest, making it difficult to proceed.

"Their clamor to get inside the courtroom, which is already full beyond capacity, is preventing the court from being able to hear the submissions of counsel with concentration," the order read.

Justice Khan directed court officials to arrange for live streaming so that interested individuals could watch the proceedings online instead of overcrowding the court. The link for streaming will be available on the IHC’s official website.

Daily hearings

The judge further stated that the case would be heard daily from Tuesday onward at 11:00 a.m. for approximately one hour each day. Court security has been directed to allow only lawyers and individuals with power of attorney in the case to enter the premises.

Justice Khan noted that senior lawyer Kamran Murtaza had already been presenting his arguments for 45 minutes when the rising noise in the courtroom prompted the decision to livestream the proceedings.

Legal debate

Advocate Kamran Murtaza, representing one of the accused through the Legal Commission of Blasphemy, questioned why the case was still pending despite the court previously ordering the government to form an inquiry commission.

"The court has disclosed its mind, and that's why they don't like our arguments," Murtaza told Nukta. He argued that most of the accused are from outside Islamabad, raising questions about the court's territorial jurisdiction.

Murtaza also criticized the government for its handling of the case, calling it “confused” and unwilling to take a clear stand.

“There’s no precedent on the judicial side where a judge has ordered live streaming. Live streaming is an administrative decision that should be taken by the Chief Justice of the High Court,” he further stated.

Advocate Usman Warraich, who represents the families of the 101 accused, dismissed Murtaza’s objections, calling them “absurd.”

"Arguments made concerning locus standi and jurisdiction are frivolous and an attempt to undermine the proceedings," Warraich told Nukta.

He noted that 134 people had requested the federal cabinet to form an inquiry commission after a Special Branch report exposed a gang allegedly abusing blasphemy laws and entrapping youth. Of these, 101 petitioners have now sought the court’s direction to ensure the commission’s formation under the Commission of Inquiry Act 2017.

Court rejects applications

The court also dismissed two applications on Monday—one by the Lahore High Court Bar Association to be impleaded in the case and another by an alleged gang member challenging the case’s maintainability. Each applicant was fined PKR 25,000.

Additionally, the court initiated contempt proceedings against one applicant for failing to follow directions and wasting the court’s time.