Christian Youth in Lahore Accused of Blasphemy – Counter-Complaint Alleges Fake Facebook Account
Christian Youth in Lahore Accused of Blasphemy
Counter-Complaint Alleges Fake Facebook Account Created by Uncle in Thailand
By Nasir Saeed |
September 17, 2025 • Lahore, Pakistan
BREAKINGA Christian youth faces blasphemy charges while claiming innocence through a counter-complaint alleging identity theft and fake social media accounts.
📅 Timeline of Events
September 14, 2025 (10:00 AM): Muhammad Umair discovers alleged blasphemous content on Facebook account “Asherbhatti”
September 15, 2025: Asher Bhatti files counter-complaint with NCCIA claiming fake account
September 16, 2025: FIR No. 6285/25 registered at Nishtar Colony Police Station under Section 295-C
Current Status: Asher Bhatti in hiding; both police and NCCIA investigations ongoing
Lahore – A First Information Report (FIR) has been registered at Nishtar Colony Police Station under the controversial Section 295-C of the Pakistan Penal Code against Asher Rasheed Bhatti, a young Christian man, and his paternal uncle Paul (Samuel) Masih, who currently resides in Thailand.
📋 FIR Details
Case Number: FIR No. 6285/25 Filed by: Muhammad Umair (Local bookshop owner) Location: Nishtar Colony Police Station, Lahore Charges: Section 295-C PPC (Blasphemy) Status: Referred to Investigation Wing
The complaint was lodged by Muhammad Umair, who operates the Old Book Centre in Awan Market. Umair alleged that he discovered a Facebook account under the name “Asherbhatti” containing what he described as blasphemous sketches and derogatory content against the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
âš–ï¸ Legal Context: Section 295-C carries mandatory penalties of death sentence or life imprisonment for anyone found guilty of defiling the name of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). This remains one of Pakistan’s most controversial laws.
According to the complaint, Umair further alleged that Asher’s uncle, Paul Masih, had commented on the posts, which he claimed intensified “incitement of hatred and injury to the religious sentiments of Muslims.”
His uncle Samuel Paul maliciously created a fake Facebook account using his name and photograph
The offensive material was posted to deliberately frame him
He has been receiving threats from Samuel Paul through personal Facebook messages
He has requested authorities to block the fake account and take legal action against his uncle
About Asher Bhatti: The accused identifies himself as a law-abiding citizen and serves as an Altar Boy at St. Matthew’s Church, Awan Market. In his application, he stated that he holds “deep respect for all Prophets, religious figures, and all religions.”
âš ï¸ Safety Concerns: Following the FIR registration, Asher Bhatti has reportedly gone into hiding at an undisclosed location for his safety. The situation in Nadeem Chowk, Awan Market remains tense.
Napoleon Qayyum, a prominent human rights activist, issued a statement expressing deep concern over the incident. He condoled with the victim’s family and strongly condemned the misuse of digital platforms to falsely implicate innocent individuals in blasphemy cases.
“The National Cybercrime Investigation Agency should have immediately investigated this account to determine who was operating it and from where. With proper digital forensics, they could have cleared everything within 3 days,”
Qayyum emphasized the urgent need for swift technical investigation in such sensitive cases to prevent innocent lives from being endangered due to false accusations.
Nasir Saeed, Director of CLAAS-UK (Centre for Legal Aid Assistance & Settlement), provided a comprehensive statement on the case:
“This is yet another tragic example of how Pakistan’s blasphemy laws are being grossly misused. Asher Bhatti is innocent, yet he has been forced into hiding because of a false accusation. Sadly, his case is not unique – thousands of innocent people, including women and children, are currently languishing in prisons under false blasphemy charges. Several others have been murdered by vigilantes before their trials could even take place.”
“The misuse of Section 295-C has destroyed countless lives and continues to create fear and insecurity among Pakistan’s minorities. Social media is increasingly being weaponised to fabricate cases, settle personal scores, and inflame communal tensions. Unless urgent reforms are made to stop this abuse, more innocent lives will be ruined. The government must act now to ensure that no one can exploit these laws for personal gain or religious persecution.”
NCCIA
Nishtar Colony Police
Investigation Wing
CLAAS-UK
Current Status: Both the police investigation and the NCCIA inquiry are ongoing. The case highlights critical issues around digital identity theft, cross-border cybercrime, social media manipulation, and the controversial application of Pakistan’s blasphemy laws.
📞 About CLAAS
Centre for Legal Aid, Assistance and Settlement (CLAAS) is an interdenominational organization working for Christians who are being persecuted because of their faith in Pakistan. CLAAS works for religious freedom, to stop persecution of Christians in Pakistan because of blasphemy and other discriminatory laws, raise awareness, disseminate information and highlight the plight of Christians on an international level.
This is a developing story with ongoing investigations by both local police and cybercrime authorities. Updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
