by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Chief International Correspondent
LAHORE, PAKISTAN (Worthy News) – A young Christian man is hiding in Pakistan after being falsely accused of making “blasphemous” comments against Islam, an offence that potentially carries the death penalty under the Islamic nation’s strict blasphemy legislation, Worthy News learned Thursday.
Asher Bhatti, an altar boy at the Catholic St. Matthew’s Church in the Awan Market area of Lahore, Pakistan’s second-largest city, allegedly published “blasphemous content” through the social media platform Facebook.
Yet in remarks shared with Worthy News, Bhatti strongly denied wrongdoing, saying the content was published through a fake Facebook account using his name and photograph.
There was no immediate comment from Facebook.
However, police registered a so-called “First Information Report” (FIR) to launch a criminal investigation that could lead to his detention as part of a judicial process that often takes years.
FIR DETAILS EMERGE
The FIR obtained by Worthy News says “complainant Muhammad Islam” reported that “on the night of September 14, 2025,” he saw “offensive material shared by Asher Bhatti on his social media account.”
The FIR says the posts were “highly insulting toward Islam and its Prophet” [Muhammad], sparking outrage among those who viewed them.
Complainant “Islam and several witnesses later appeared [at Lahore’s Nishtar Colony Police Station] demanding legal action. On their testimony, police registered the FIR on September 16,” the FIR says.
The FIR notes that if proven, the alleged offence falls under Section 295-C, Pakistan’s strict blasphemy law, which carries the death penalty or life imprisonment.
Police said an investigation into the case has been launched.
CLAIMS OF FRAME-UP
Bhatti said he filed “a counter-complaint” with the National Cyber Crimes Investigation Agency (NCCIA), asserting that the Facebook account is fake and was created “to frame” him.
“He accuses his uncle, Samuel Paul, of orchestrating the scheme out of jealousy and personal enmity. Bhatti claims Paul used his photo and name to post offensive material designed to provoke outrage and incite legal action,” confirmed Mushtaq Sardar Gill, a Christian human rights lawyer closely following the case.
Gill, the founder of Christian advocacy group LEAD Pakistan Ministries, told Worthy News that Bhatti stated in his counter-complaint, “his innocence and devotion to peaceful coexistence.”
“I have deep respect for all Prophets, religious figures, and all religions,” Bhatti is quoted as saying in the document.
“Bhatti has since gone into hiding at an undisclosed location for his safety. The situation in the part of the Awan Market area where he lived remains tense,” Gill stressed.
GROWING CHRISTIAN FEARS
Christian leaders are voicing deep concern over the case. Pastor Imran Amanat, leader of LEAD Ministries Pakistan, strongly condemned “the exploitation of blasphemy laws” for personal revenge.
Gill noted that the latest case is part of a “broader pattern of legal abuse” in the country, often targeting minority Christians.
“It is common in Pakistan to misuse criminal laws to harm, injure, or defame others—whether through false rape accusations using their girls, fabricated murder charges, or drug-related offences,” Gill told Worthy News. “Now, people are turning to blasphemy laws, using platforms like Facebook to target those they envy or hate.”
He called the trend “deeply alarming,” adding that it should be addressed with urgency by authorities and the international community.
LEAD Ministries Pakistan “is also demanding immediate protection for Bhatti and legal action against those who falsely accuse others under blasphemy laws,” he added.
WIDER PATTERN SEEN
Bhatti’s supporters warn his plight shows blasphemy laws are increasingly used to intimidate or eliminate opponents.
Pastor Amanat urged “the global Christian community to pray for the safety, strength, and unity of Christians in Pakistan during these challenging times.”
The case comes amid broader scrutiny of Pakistan’s blasphemy legislation.
The National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR) noted that by mid-2024, there were 767 people imprisoned under blasphemy charges across the country, with Punjab province recording the highest number. Earlier official figures had cited 331 such prisoners in late 2023, showing a sharp increase, according to the NCHR, an independent statutory body created by Pakistan’s parliament to monitor rights violations.
Pakistan also ranks eighth on the Open Doors World Watch List 2025 of what it views as the most dangerous countries in the world to live as a Christian.
Rights advocates say those figures underscore the urgent need for reform of blasphemy provisions and protections for vulnerable communities. Around 4 million people identifying as Christians live in Pakistan, making up roughly 1.6 percent of the population, a small minority within the Muslim-majority nation of more than 240 million.
Altar Boy Hiding In Pakistan As Fake Facebook Post Sparks Blasphemy Case (Worthy News Investigation)
