Islamabad, July 27, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Officials in Pakistan have informed a parliamentary committee that a significant number of blasphemy cases registered across the country’s provinces over the past five years were found to be false or unsupported by evidence, according to reports.
Provincial home secretaries and senior police officials presented details before the Senate’s Functional Committee on Human Rights, stating that many allegations were linked to personal disputes, family conflicts and private disagreements rather than genuine religious offences.
The committee was informed that 333 blasphemy cases were registered across Pakistan’s four provinces during the five-year period. Officials said several cases, including those involving religious minorities, were dismissed after investigations failed to establish evidence supporting the accusations.
Punjab recorded the highest number of cases under Section 295-C of Pakistan’s blasphemy law, with 116 cases reported during the period. Sindh registered 96 cases under Section 295-B and 29 cases under Section 295-C. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa reported more than 90 cases, while Balochistan recorded 28 cases.
Human rights groups and legal experts have repeatedly raised concerns over the alleged misuse of Pakistan’s blasphemy laws, claiming that the provisions are sometimes exploited for settling personal disputes, property conflicts and targeting members of religious minorities.
The Voice of Pakistan Minority (VOPM), a minority rights organisation, recently criticised what it described as institutional failures in preventing misuse of the laws and protecting individuals facing false allegations.
The organisation referred to the case of Rimsha Masih, a Pakistani Christian girl with Down syndrome who was accused of desecrating the Quran. The case later faced questions over the authenticity of the allegations, and she was eventually released.
Rights groups have argued that failure to take action against those making false accusations has weakened confidence in the justice system and created risks of mob violence and social pressure against accused individuals before legal proceedings establish facts.
The parliamentary committee’s discussion has renewed debate in Pakistan over safeguards against misuse of blasphemy laws while ensuring that genuine complaints are investigated through due legal processes.
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