The Blasphemy Business Gang: FactFocus Report

Blasphemy Business Gang: Weaponizing Faith for Power and Profit

The misuse of blasphemy laws in Pakistan—especially Section 295-C of the Pakistan Penal Code—has long been a source of global concern. But recent revelations by FactFocus uncover a more disturbing trend: the emergence of an organized extortion racket that uses blasphemy allegations as a tool for blackmail, land confiscation, and silencing dissent. This so-called “Blasphemy Business Gang” turns religious sensitivity into a weapon—not to protect Islam, but to expand political and financial control.

The FactFocus Report: A Chilling Exposure of the Blasphemy Business Gang

According to the recent investigative series by FactFocus, this blasphemy gang is not a fringe group—it includes religious clerics, lawyers, political actors, and bureaucrats, working in tandem.

FIA Officials as Blasphemy Vigilantes

• Coerced False Statements: FIA officers pressured victim families to issue fabricated statements supporting the agency in court, using fear and manipulation.
  
• Threatening Lawyers: Chaudhary Sarfraz, a senior FIA Cyber Crimes officer, openly warned defense lawyers at a TLP-led event that representing accused individuals would “disgrace themselves in the house of Allah.” He asserted all blasphemy accusations are 100% accurate.
  

Mafia-Style Operations

• Misleading Investigations: One case in focus involved Advocate Rao Abdul Raheem, who allegedly orchestrated the murder of a young man, then used FIA to lodge blasphemy charges against the victim’s father, Amir Shah, to derail justice.
  
• State-Backed Extortion: Mudassir Shah, an FIA officer, falsely filed a 295‑C complaint, threatening Amir Shah’s life and demanding a signed statement in favor of the accused in exchange for dropping charges.
  

Public Extremist Collaboration

• TLP Endorsement: At a public gathering with the extremist group Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), Chaudhary Sarfraz praised TLP leadership, echoed conspiratorial narratives about “international mafias,” and backed blasphemy accusations as divinely sanctioned.
  
• Courtroom Intimidation: Another FIA officer, Muhammad Iqbal, was found to have smuggled individuals into Lahore High Court and secretly filmed proceedings—potentially jeopardizing judicial safety.

Impact on Minorities and Dissenters

Religious minorities—especially Christians, Ahmadis, Hindus, and Shia Muslims—are disproportionately targeted. But even Sunni Muslims and political activists are not safe if they challenge the wrong people.

This weaponization of faith has:

• Chilled freedom of expression
  
• Weakened the rule of law
  
• Led to mob lynchings, assassinations, and mass displacement
  

Prominent cases like those of Asia Bibi, Mashal Khan, and others underscore the fatal consequences of false accusations.

Why This Matters Globally

While this is a Pakistani crisis, its implications are international:

• Human rights violations must be exposed and condemned.
  
• Religious persecution cannot be hidden behind blasphemy laws.
  
• The misuse of blasphemy laws undermines global efforts to protect religious freedoms and democratic norms.
  

The Role of the State: Silence or Complicity?

The state’s response remains worryingly muted. Instead of dismantling the blasphemy cartel:

• Police often fail to protect victims or even become complicit.
  
• Courts are under pressure from religious mobs.
  
• Politicians fear backlash if they push for reform.
  

This failure emboldens the blasphemy business—and erodes public trust.

What Needs to Be Done

To address this growing criminal racket, Pakistan must:

Reform 295-C to require evidence, intent, and safeguards
Protect victims and whistleblowers from mob violence
Punish false accusers with strict penalties
Hold complicit clerics, lawyers, and officials accountable
Educate the public on religious tolerance and legal rights

International pressure, civil society activism, and brave journalism (like that of FactFocus) are essential to push for change.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the punishment under 295-C in Pakistan?

Death or life imprisonment, even for unproven allegations.

Are blasphemy accusations always true?

No. Many are fabricated for personal revenge, profit, or political reasons.

Who are the main victims of false blasphemy allegations?

Mostly religious minorities, poor citizens, and those challenging corruption.

Is there evidence of organized blasphemy rings?

Yes. FactFocus’s investigative reports reveal a coordinated network exploiting these laws.