Blasphemy law does not apply to dreams, LHC rules.

LAHORE -- The Lahore High Court (LHC) has ruled that a person cannot be prosecuted for what he sees in his dreams or for sharing with others his thoughts, visions or emotions he has during those times.

Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh issued the ruling quashing a first information report (FIR) registered under Section 295-A of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) by the Saddar Police Station of Mianwali against the petitioner.

The complainant, an ex-member of the Mianwali district council, had alleged in August 2021 that the petitioner held sacrilegious beliefs and he began propagating them to the general public. He alleged that the petitioner claimed that he could fly and see Allah and various companions of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in his dreams.

The complainant further alleged that the petitioner had made similar statements before a crowd where two prosecution witnesses were also present. He claimed that such propagation hurt the community's religious feelings and was likely to incite violence.

Quashes FIR registered against a Mianwali man

A counsel for the petitioner argued that the first information report (FIR) was mala fide and politically motivated. He said it did not state what blasphemous notions the petitioner held and when he expressed them. The only specific allegation against the petitioner was that he told a group of people about his dreams and claimed to have seen God and certain holy personages 'Such narration is not an offence under Section 295-A PPC,' the counsel added.

Opposing the petition, the counsel for the complainant adopted arguments of the law officer who submitted that the petitioner's thoughts and beliefs were blasphemous and sinful and the law prohibited their expression. He contended that the petitioner deliberately and maliciously concocted false stories, which offended other people's religious feelings.

Before discussing the merits of the case, Justice Sheikh looked into the offence under Section 295-A of the PPC and observed that in an examination of the FIR, 'we find that the offence under section 295-A PPC is...