Pakistan finds majority of 333 blasphemy cases in five years were false

A parliamentary committee in Pakistan was briefed that out of 333 blasphemy cases registered across the country's four provinces over the past five years, most were dismissed as fabricated. Provincial home secretaries and senior police officials told the Senate's human‑rights functional committee that many accusations stem from personal enmity, family disputes or other private feuds, and lack evidentiary support.

The data show that the largest share of cases under Section 295‑C was recorded in Punjab (116 cases). Sindh recorded 96 cases under Section 295‑B and 29 under 295‑C, while Khyber Pakhtunkhwa saw over 90 cases and Balochistan 28 in the same period. Human‑rights organisations have long criticised Pakistan's blasphemy laws for being misused against religious minorities, citing the case of Christian girl Rimsha Masih, whose accusations of Quran desecration were later found to be fabricated.