In a significant ruling, an anti-terrorism court has handed down death sentences to four individuals for allegedly promoting religious hatred through social media.
The convicted individuals—Rana Usman, Ashfaq Ali, Salman Sajjad, and Wajid Ali—were found guilty under Section 11 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), along with charges under Sections 295-A, 295-B, 295-C, 298-A, 34, and 109 of the Pakistan Penal Code.
The verdict, delivered by Additional Sessions Judge Muhammad Tariq Ayub, also included a 10-year prison sentence and a fine of Rs 1 million for each of the accused.
The case, initiated in October 2022, underscores the grave consequences of using digital platforms to incite religious tension and violence. The individuals were sentenced for allegedly spreading blasphemous content via Facebook pages they reportedly managed.
