On Thursday, the Supreme Court of Pakistan heard the Punjab government’s urgent application seeking the omission of specific portions from its July 24 verdict in the Mubarak Ahmad Sani case.
Earlier, on February 6, a two-judge bench led by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa overturned the 2019 conviction of Mubarak Sani, who had been accused under the Punjab Holy Quran (Printing and Recording) (Amendment) Act. The court ruled that the offense Sani was accused of was not criminalized until 2021, leading to his release.
This decision sparked a significant backlash, with the Punjab government challenging the ruling, particularly regarding paragraph 9, which touched on Article 20 of the Constitution, arguing that the right to religious freedom is not absolute but subject to law, public order, and morality.
During Thursday’s hearing, a three-member bench, including CJP Isa, Justices Irfan Saadat Khan, and Naeem Akhtar Afghan, took up the petition. Prominent religious figures, including Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam—Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and Mufti Taqi Usmani, participated in the session. Mufti Usmani joined via video link from Turkiye.
The clerics requested the court to remove paragraphs 7 and 42 from the revised judgment, particularly objecting to the use of the term “tableegh” (preaching), which they felt implied unconditional permission for non-Muslims to preach. CJP Isa responded by emphasizing the court’s respect for the Constitution and religious sensitivities, acknowledging that errors could occur and expressing openness to review and correct the judgment if necessary.
The matter has stirred considerable debate in Pakistan, with various religious and political groups, as well as the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII), expressing concerns about the ruling. The Supreme Court’s decision is being closely watched, as it involves significant religious and constitutional implications.
