Justice Mazahar Ali Naqvi of the Lahore High Court on Wednesday adjourned, without any proceedings, an appeal petition of 85-year-old convict against his sentence of life imprisonment, awarded to him by trial court over committing blasphemy against Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
Appellant-convict Muhammad Zaman Khan, through his counsel Shah Mehmood Bhatti, filed an appeal petition against the judgment of the trial court that awarded him life imprisonment under the section 295-C of the blasphemy law in a false case made against him by his opponents, adding that the statements of the witnesses were contradictory and the SHO had a grudge against him.
He claimed that he was a true Muslim, adding that he was a custodian of Hazrat Rang Ali Shah shrine, located at Chak 175/7R Fort Abbas, Bahawalnagar Tehsil, when the case was made against him, adding that the devotee of a saint could not utter objectionable words against Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), therefore the judgment of the trial court may be set aside and he be released from the false case.
He said that Fort Abbas Police Station House Officer (SHO) Muhammad Imran had a grudge against him as he had moved an application against him to the higher officials of police, adding that only a superintendent of police (SP) or higher could investigate his case. He prayed the LHC set aside the impugned judgment by the trial court and pass orders for his release.