SC acquits blasphemy accused after 19-year imprisonment

The Supreme Court on Thursday said that Constitution guarantees freedom to an individual to hold and profess the faith of his choice and all citizens - regardless of their religion - are equal before the law and entitled to equal protection.

A seven-page written order authored by Justice Qazi Muhammad Amin Ahmed on acquitting a blasphemy accused after 19-year imprisonment, said: "The citizens regardless of religion are equal before the law and entitled to equal protection thereof and it is so guaranteed under the Constitution."

It said that 1973 Constitution guarantees freedom to an individual to hold and profess the faith of his choice and "in his divine pursuits, he is sovereign and there is no intermediary between his soul and its Comforter."

"Therefore, the appellant's [accused Wajeeh-ul-Hassan] declaration of faith [that he is a faithful Muslim] is to be preferred over divergent imputations," it added.