A court has dismissed blasphemy charges against two Christian sisters, Saima and Sonia, accused two months ago in Gojra, Punjab. Residents of Village 304, the sisters faced allegations under Sections 295-B and 497(2) of the Pakistan Penal Code for allegedly discarding a sack with Quranic pages. After reviewing the evidence, the court dropped all charges, marking a significant legal win.

Saima, 39, a widow and volunteer health worker with two children, and Sonia, 32, a former schoolteacher with three children, consistently denied the allegations, affirming their respect for all religious texts. Advocate Chaudhry Haneef Hameed Mattu, representing the sisters, argued that the charges were fabricated to settle personal disputes, citing delayed reporting and a lack of direct witnesses.

Initially, Saima was granted post-arrest bail by Gojra Sessions Judge Waseem Mubarik on September 9, 2024, while Sonia’s pre-arrest bail was initially denied. However, on September 16, Justice Muhammad Amjad Rafique of the Lahore High Court granted Sonia bail. Advocate Mattu then sought case dismissal in the Lahore High Court. Justice Shahbaz Naqvi referred the matter to District Police Officer (DPO) Waqar Abbasi in Toba Tek Singh, who found insufficient evidence, leading to the charges being dropped.

The accusations stemmed from an August 6, 2024 incident in which a neighbor, Muhammad Haider, claimed he saw Sonia discard a bag containing Islamic text pages. Along with a local shopkeeper, he confronted the sisters, accusing them of blasphemy. A mob quickly gathered, demanding action. Attempting to flee, Saima was pursued, beaten, and ultimately taken into custody by police.

Despite the court’s decision, the family remains under threat and fears mob violence. This case has renewed calls from activists for reforming Pakistan’s blasphemy laws, as minority communities seek protection from potential misuse of these laws.