Islamabad, Feb 18 (NationPress) A court in Pakistan has denied bail to a blind Christian man facing blasphemy charges, even in light of significant inconsistencies in the police documentation and testimony from the prosecution, as reported by local media citing his attorney.

This case intensifies worries regarding the exploitation of blasphemy laws against religious minorities within the nation.

On February 4, Muhammad Jawad Zafar of the Lahore High Court (LHC) turned down the bail application of Nadeem Masih, aged 49, who has been detained since August 21 under Section 295-C of the blasphemy laws, which imposes a mandatory death penalty for insults against the Prophet Muhammad, according to Christian Daily International-Morning Star News.

Masih’s lawyer, Javed Sahotra, expressed to Christian Daily, “We had hoped the high court would approve bail due to the inconsistencies in the First Information Report (FIR) and the dubious claims of the prosecution witnesses that required further investigation. Nevertheless, the judge indicated concerns that the defendant might flee or tamper with evidence.”

Sahotra referenced prior court decisions to bolster the bail request, including a 2024 ruling from the Lahore High Court where a murder suspect received bail after becoming blind in custody, and a 2022 Supreme Court ruling that granted bail to Salamat Mansha Masih, a Christian involved in another blasphemy case with questionable witness reliability.

Nadeem Masih was apprehended at Model Town Park in Lahore, where he worked with a weighing scale to support his family, later being charged after police alleged he had committed blasphemy.

According to Police Sub-Inspector Muhammad Ayub, the FIR claims he and his unit were patrolling the park at 11 p.m. when they learned of the supposed crime. Sahotra contested this, pointing out that the park’s closure is at 9 p.m. and call data records indicate that neither Masih nor the complainant were present at that hour.

The attorney also raised doubts about the credibility of two prosecution witnesses, parking contractors, who reportedly asserted on August 22 that Masih had made derogatory comments on August 9 but delayed reporting them. “These postponed statements cast serious doubt on the prosecution’s claims,” Sahotra remarked to Christian Daily.

Masih’s family believes the accusations may have arisen from a personal conflict with local contractors. His 80-year-old mother, Martha Yousaf, told Christian Daily that Masih was barred from setting up his stall on August 21, assaulted, and subsequently taken to the Model Town Police Station, where he was charged with blasphemy. She mentioned he was beaten while in custody and coerced into confessing.

The family’s circumstances are dire, with Masih being the only provider following the deaths of his father and another son, while one of his daughters has started working in private homes to help support the household.

Human Rights Watch has consistently condemned the misuse of blasphemy laws in Pakistan against religious minorities.

A report from June 2025 titled 'A Conspiracy to Grab the Land: Exploiting Pakistan’s Blasphemy Laws for Blackmail and Profit' stated, “Blasphemy accusations are increasingly weaponized to incite mob violence, displace vulnerable communities, and seize their property with impunity.”

Although courts may occasionally grant bail in blasphemy cases, such verdicts remain infrequent due to heightened public sensitivities. International observers continue to classify Pakistan as one of the most difficult nations for Christians.

Open Doors’ 2026 World Watch List ranked Pakistan eighth, citing systemic discrimination, mob violence, forced conversions, bonded labor, and gender-based abuses.