A young man from a Christian family, Farhan Masih (28), from Chak No. 134/9L, was arrested under Pakistan’s blasphemy law on 26th January 2025. He has been taken into judicial remand at Sahiwal Jail, and his family fears for their safety.
On 28th January 2025, the BACA team visited Farhan’s family and met with Parveen Akhtar (65), who recounted the details of his struggles. She explained that Farhan earned his Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) in 2014 from Khairpur and had been working at a local clinic. However, two years ago, he lost his job after falling into drug addiction, becoming dependent on ICE (crystal meth) and marijuana.
“Farhan is now mentally ill and often speaks irrationally, becoming easily angered due to his condition. He enjoys meeting people and frequently wanders the streets, striking up conversations with those he encounters,” Parveen Akhtar told BACA.
Parveen Akhtar recounted that on 26th January, around 2:00 pm, Farhan left the house for a short walk and returned soon after. Just half an hour later, the police arrived and arrested him, informing the family that a man named Muhammad Bilal Khan had filed a complaint. Khan accused Farhan of committing blasphemy against Islam and its holy figures during a card game at a street corner. Though no evidence was provided barring the witness statement, police arrested Farhan and took him to the local police station for interrogation, at the time they stated that he should only be at the station for a few hours but Farhan never returned home.
“We were all devastated by the arrest. Farhan was visibly terrified, but the police reassured us that he would only be taken away for a short while. However, when he didn’t return by evening, we realized the situation had taken a serious turn,” said Parveen Akhtar.
At Ghala Mandi Police Station in Sahiwal, Mr Khan had registered a First Information Report (FIR No. 224/25) against Farhan under sections 295-A and 298-A of Pakistan’s blasphemy laws, along with charges under the Anti-Terrorism Act of 1997 against Farhan.
According to FIR the complainant, Muhammad Bilal Khan, Farhan allegedly blasphemed by stating, “The holy persons of Islam are false, and Muslims are low-level people.” However, no other evidence has been submitted against him and this seems like retribution for a personal offence.
On 27th January, the police transferred Farhan to Central Jail Sahiwal on judicial remand. That same day, his family visited the police station, where they were informed that he had been officially charged and sent to prison. However, they have yet to be granted permission to visit him.
Farhan’s younger sister, Anam Javed (26), told BACA that he suffers from mental instability and often speaks irrationally, but he has never said anything against Islam before and has many Muslim friends. She expressed deep concern, stating that he is unable to defend himself and is completely vulnerable. She fears that, due to his drug dependency, he might say something without thinking and urgently wants him to be protected.
Farhan’s family is struggling to cover the cost of an advocate to ensure he receives fair representation and justice. The financial burden is overwhelming, as the family relies on a meagre monthly income of just Rs. 29,000 (£83.66), making it impossible to cover the necessary legal fees on their own.
We are appealing to your kindness to help raise £2000 to cover the cost of a dedicated advocate for Farhan’s case. Your donation will directly contribute to securing professional legal representation, which is crucial in ensuring that Farhan’s rights are protected.
Please consider donating today and helping Farhan’s family in this desperate time. Every contribution, no matter how small, makes a difference.
Thank you for your compassion and support. Together, we can help Farhan and his family in their fight for justice.
Juliet Chowdhry, Trustee for the British Asian Christian Association, said:
“The family of Farhan Masih is devastated by the sheer injustice they are facing. Farhan, already vulnerable due to his mental health struggles and addiction, is being subjected to a horrific misuse of Pakistan’s blasphemy laws. These laws, which allow accusations based solely on hearsay, have left this family in despair, with no tangible evidence to support the claims against Farhan. It is heart-wrenching to see how these laws are weaponized, not only to persecute Christians but also other minorities, or even to settle personal feuds. The way these laws are exploited creates an environment of fear and discrimination. No one should ever have to live in fear of such baseless accusations, and no family should endure this level of suffering. It is time for the abrogation of these laws so that Pakistan can move towards a future where justice, equality, and true freedom are upheld for all, regardless of their faith or background.”
