An organised blasphemy business network in Pakistan is actively ensnaring individuals — particularly religious minorities — into blasphemy traps on social media platforms, according to a report published by Zenit. The network, which reportedly began in Rawalpindi and Islamabad, has since spread across much of the country and allegedly operates with the complicity of some Pakistani officials, including members of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).

How the Entrapment Works

According to the Zenit report, operatives of the network target individuals online, cultivating trust through personal disclosures before steering conversations toward matters of faith. If the target says anything that could be construed as critical or mocking of religion — even in passing — a screenshot is taken and treated as evidence.

'Simon,' a Pakistani Christian quoted in the report, described the method: stalkers monitor religious minorities on social media, looking for loopholes in their posts that can be exploited. Once a compromising screenshot is secured, the target faces extortion demands or visits from select officials. Should the target resist, the screenshot is leaked to their employer, family, and local religious figures, who reportedly escalate the matter with institutional backing.

'Now you can start extorting him. Or have a few select officials visit him. If the target stays defiant in the face of such pressure, then leak the screenshot to his employer, his family, and, of course, the local imams and activists — they'll gladly handle it from there, with layers of institutional support behind them,' the Zenit report stated.

Who Is Most at Risk

The report notes that no demographic in Pakistan is entirely safe from for-profit blasphemy accusations. However, religious minorities — including Christians, Hindus, and certain Islamic sects deemed heretical — face a disproportionately higher risk. Blasphemy accusations against a minority community can trigger mob violence severe enough to force entire neighbourhoods to evacuate, with dozens of houses reportedly destroyed in such attacks.

'The main purpose here is to extort bribes from the target in exchange for dropping criminal charges. In the custody of such people, the treatment is appalling. At least several cases have seen the abuse turn fatal,' the Zenit report noted.

Network's Reach and Institutional Links

The blasphemy business network is reported to have connections not only to Pakistani officials but also to prominent Islamic religious scholars. At blasphemy trials, mobs reportedly surround courthouses to pressure judges into issuing favourable rulings. The Zenit report observed that many mob participants appear motivated by financial incentives rather than religious conviction — a conclusion drawn from documented disputes between mob organisers and participants who claimed they were not paid for their services.

Systemic Coercion of Pakistan's Justice System

In March, the Voice of Pakistan Minority (VOPM), a leading minority rights group, alleged that Pakistan's blasphemy laws are being weaponised as a tool of systematic coercion. The group described a 'blasphemy complex' that uses fear of mob violence, targeted killings, and economic blackmail to effectively paralyse institutions responsible for protecting rights and upholding the rule of law.

According to the VOPM, Pakistan's blasphemy provisions carry a mandatory death penalty or life imprisonment, but their vague and broad wording makes mere accusations sufficient to trigger arrest and detention. Human rights organisations have documented that these laws are routinely used to settle personal scores, grab land, and persecute minorities rather than address genuine incitement.

Lawyers and Judges Under Threat

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has documented instances where judges hearing blasphemy cases have been 'openly threatened in courtrooms, pressured by crowds outside court premises, and denounced in sermons or social media campaigns when they show leniency or demand solid evidence.'

Lawyers defending the accused face comparable or greater danger. Several have reportedly been assassinated, including prominent rights lawyer Rashid Rehman, who was shot dead in his office after defending an academic accused of blasphemy — following explicit threats over his involvement in the case. The resulting climate of fear has led many lawyers to refuse such cases, leaving the accused without meaningful legal representation. Judges, in turn, reportedly deny bail, delay decisions, or pass responsibility up the judicial hierarchy to avoid individual accountability.

With the network now spanning much of Pakistan and allegedly embedded in state institutions, rights groups warn that accountability remains elusive and the cycle of coercion is likely to deepen.