A massive demonstration has erupted in Pakistan, with thousands of protesters marching under the banner “Sar tan se juda” (behead them), targeting Supreme Court Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa. This latest surge of unrest follows a contentious ruling by the court and an escalating campaign of threats and violence directed at Justice Isa.
Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa, appointed to Pakistan’s highest judicial office in November 2023, has faced increasing hostility since February 2024. The controversy began after Justice Isa’s bench ordered the release of Mubarak Ahmad Sani, an Ahmadiyya man accused of blasphemy. Sani was charged under the Punjab Holy Quran (Printing and Recording) (Amendment) Act, 2021, for distributing pamphlets promoting his religious beliefs. However, the three-judge bench, led by Isa, concluded that Sani’s alleged offence was not criminalized until the enactment of the 2021 amendment. As a result, Sani was granted bail and released from custody.
The ruling triggered a vehement backlash from Islamist groups, including the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), which have led widespread protests and a hate campaign against Justice Isa. On May 29, 2024, a three-judge bench, including Isa, Justice Irfan Saadat Khan, and Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan, reserved its decision on the matter.
The recent wave of protests intensified on August 19, 2024, when a large crowd of Islamist demonstrators breached the highly secured Red Zone in Islamabad. They stormed the Supreme Court’s entrance gates to protest against the apex court’s verdict in the Mubarak Sani case. The protests are a continuation of the unrest that began in February and have escalated with the involvement of various Islamist groups.
On July 24, 2024, the court accepted a plea from the Punjab government and several Islamist organizations seeking a review of its February ruling. The court’s acceptance of these pleas and its statement that the right to profess religion and religious freedom is subject to law, morality, and public order further inflamed the situation. A hearing on these pleas is scheduled for August 22, 2024.
The situation has become increasingly perilous for Chief Justice Isa. Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) has placed a bounty of 1 crore Pakistani rupees (approximately USD 350,000) on his head. Pir Zaheerul Hasan Shah, a senior TLP leader, made the announcement, urging followers to kill Justice Isa for his alleged desecration of the law and perceived offence against Islamic sentiments.
Shah’s inflammatory remarks have been condemned by Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, who stated, “There is no room for such statements in the state of Pakistan, and they will not be tolerated. Qazi Sahib’s decisions are based on legal principles, not on group affiliations. This hateful narrative is damaging to Pakistan and politically motivated.”
Ahmadiyyas in Pakistan have long faced severe persecution. Officially declared non-Muslims in 1974, they are often targeted under Pakistan’s blasphemy laws. Mubarak Sani’s release has been seen as a challenge to the religious beliefs held by Islamist factions, including the TLP, which regard Ahmadiyyas as heretics. The blasphemy laws, frequently weaponized by extremists, have led to numerous instances of violence and mob attacks against non-Muslims and others accused of offending religious sentiments.
Historically, blasphemy allegations have sparked violent protests and attacks in Pakistan. Incidents like the placement of boulders on train tracks and attempts to sabotage rail operations underscore the dangerous misuse of blasphemy laws and the volatility they create. As the Supreme Court faces increasing pressure, there are concerns that it may reverse its decision on Sani and re-incarcerate him.
The ongoing turmoil reflects broader issues of religious intolerance and the politicization of judicial decisions in Pakistan. As the situation unfolds, the international community watches closely, aware that the implications extend beyond the immediate legal context to broader questions of justice and human rights in the country.
