Pakistani court hands life imprisonment to woman for allegedly 'burning' Quran

Hayer police in Lahore registered the first information report of the incident in 2021 under section 295-B of Pakistan Penal Code against ‘A’, 40, a resident of Bedian Road, reported Dawn News.

Defence counsel argued that the accused person was falsely implicated in a fabricated case.

He was quoted as saying by Dawn News that there were glaring contradictions and dishonest improvements in the statements of the prosecution witnesses.

He maintained that it was the duty of the investigating officer to investigate the matter thoroughly in line with the Police Rules and Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) but it was not done.

The counsel questioned the prosecution story saying why any private person from the vicinity who allegedly witnessed the alleged occurrence did not turn up as complainant and the case was registered on the complaint of a police official.

Assistant District Public Prosecutor Mohazib Awais said the accused woman was caught red-handed while burning a copy of the Quran.

Awais said the Quran was recovered from the spot.

Additional District & Sessions Judge Imran Sheikh maintained the prosecution established its case beyond any shadow of doubt and the ingredients of section 295-B PPC were fully made out regarding the act of burning a copy of Quran by the accused, the Pakistani newspaper reported