Junaid Hafeez, a former professor of English Literature at Bahauddin Zakariya University (BZU), has spent more than a decade in solitary confinement, trapped in a legal limbo that epitomizes Pakistan’s intolerance, judicial inefficiency, and state apathy. His case—initiated in 2013 on controversial blasphemy charges—has become a glaring example of how Pakistan’s blasphemy laws are weaponized, often leading to severe miscarriages of justice.
For Usama Asghar, the writer and analyst who has followed Hafeez’s case closely, this issue is deeply personal. Recalling his early teenage years, Asghar remembers how his father, a police officer, warned him about the dangers of expressing opinions freely on the internet. “He often backed his advice up with examples, frequently citing a case involving a young professor who was arrested by the police on blasphemy charges in the town of Rajanpur,” Asghar shares. Years later, he would realize that this very case was that of Junaid Hafeez.
Hafeez’s ordeal began when students accused him of making blasphemous remarks and sharing controversial content online. The situation quickly escalated, culminating in his arrest on March 13, 2013. His trial, marred by irregularities, saw key evidence mishandled and his defense lawyer, Rashid Rehman, gunned down after receiving open threats in court. In 2019, Hafeez was sentenced to death under Section 295-C of the Pakistan Penal Code, with additional life imprisonment under Section 295-B and a further ten years of rigorous imprisonment under Section 295-A.
The handling of his case has been a travesty of justice, highlighting the dangerous climate of religious extremism in Pakistan. “Junaid Hafeez is not only suffering for the intolerance in the country that put false blasphemy charges on him but also for the ineffectiveness and selfishness of our justice system,” Asghar asserts. The trial’s prolonged nature has left Hafeez in solitary confinement, his mental and physical well-being deteriorating, while the state remains an apathetic bystander.
Pakistan’s blasphemy laws, particularly Section 295-C, have long been criticized for their vagueness and potential for abuse. Even unverified allegations can lead to deadly consequences, as seen in the recent lynching of a local tourist in Swat. The unchecked power of radical elements has instilled fear in lawmakers and judges alike, making fair trials nearly impossible in blasphemy cases.
Asghar paints a bleak picture of the country’s trajectory. “Over time, this country has made it evident that it is not for people like Junaid Hafeez, who stand for knowledge and tolerance, but for blood-seeking, ruthless mobs to dominate and do whatever they will,” he laments. His hope is for a Pakistan where freedom of thought and religious plurality are respected, but the reality of Hafeez’s case fills him with despair.
The call for reform is urgent. “If there is an ounce of shame and humanity left in our lawmakers, they should abolish the cruel blasphemy laws,” Asghar urges. However, in a country where mob justice often prevails over legal processes, Hafeez’s future remains uncertain. His name, honored at Jackson State University in the USA, starkly contrasts with his fate in Pakistan—a scholar silenced in solitary confinement, waiting for justice in a system that has failed him.
The question remains: Is Junaid Hafeez condemned forever? Until Pakistan confronts its intolerance and reforms its blasphemy laws, the answer appears tragically clear.
We acknowledge The European Times for the information.
