A Pakistani court has overturned a death sentence handed down to a Christian couple for blasphemy, citing a lack of evidence.

Shagufta Kausar and her husband Shafqat Emmanuel were convicted in 2014 for insulting the Prophet Muhammad.

But on Thursday, the couple's lawyer Saif ul Malook said the Lahore High Court had acquitted them.

A prosecution lawyer told the Reuters news agency that the latest ruling would be challenged.

Blasphemy is punishable by death in Pakistan, and though no-one has ever been executed for it, dozens have been killed by mobs after being accused.

"I am very happy that we were able to get the release of this couple who are some of the most helpless people in our society," Mr Malook told the AFP news agency.

He said he expected the pair to be freed next week after the court orders are published.

Human rights groups have welcomed the ruling.

"Today's decision puts an end to the seven-year long ordeal of a couple who should not have been convicted nor faced a death sentence in the first place," Amnesty International's South Asia Deputy Director Dinushika Dissanayake said in a statement.

What were the couple accused of?
The married couple were convicted in 2014 of sending blasphemous text messages insulting the Prophet Muhammad to a local imam from a phone number registered in Ms Kausar's name.

But her brother told the BBC last year that the couple were innocent, and he doubted they were literate enough even to have written the abusive messages.

Ms Kausar worked as a caretaker in a Christian school, whilst her husband is partially paralysed.

Human rights groups say blasphemy allegations are frequently used to settle personal scores or target religious minorities

The couple's lawyer told the BBC last year that in their trial they suggested a Christian neighbour they had argued with might have purchased a SIM card in Shagufta Kausar's name and sent the messages in order to frame them.

In April, the European Parliament passed a motion condemning Pakistan for failing to protect religious minorities, focusing on the case of Ms Kausar and Mr Emmanuel.

Blasphemy convictions are often eventually overturned on appeal in Pakistan. Last year, Asia Bibi left the country after more than a decade in prison, having been acquitted by the Supreme Court. The verdict led to violent protests by hardline religious groups.

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Christians in those Arab countries are really suffering... someone might have framed them up. That's why I fear for Nigeria northern christians in event that Nigeria breaks up...they are in for horror experience

So killing a man for a god not seen is something a religion should practice?


I've seen where people call God different names and lay curses to him...But I don't see that as anything...


Why should anyone kill his fellow man for a god that can literally fight his battles?

Stupid law and stupid Country

athaboi:
Christians in those Arab countries are really suffering... someone might have framed them up. That's why I fear for Nigeria northern christians in event that Nigeria breaks up...they are in for horror experience

do you know that India and Paki were same country before their independence in 1947? During first independence ceremony, they divided sharpally into 2 countries to give them their 99% Islamic Republic.

This is what some blockhead leaders failed to do in 1960.

I hate men

Imagine

Good

Ihatemen:
I hate men

This your space booking strategy will get stale sooner than you imagined it

Pakistanis will go to US, UK, Canada and Australia - all Christian country - to live and study without harassment. And the fact they have not evolved from such mundane law of blasphemy is staggering.

VeeVeeMyLuv:
do you know that India and Paki were same country before their independence in 1947? During first independence ceremony, they divided sharpally into 2 countries to give them their 99% Islamic Republic.

This is what some blockhead leaders failed to do in 1960.

If anyone asks why are Christians afraid of Shariah Courts and the attempts to Islamize Nigeria, events like this from Pakistan is one clear reason.

If somebody just insult somebody, e just mean say na death be next.

Make we all kuku kill ourselves nah.

Thank God for them

This religion of piissss and sheet, them mumu everywhere.

EagleNest:
Pakistanis will go to US, UK, Canada and Australia - all Christian country - to live and study without harassment. And the fact they have not evolved from such mundane law of blasphemy is staggering.

Those are not Christian countries,

SegFault:

Those are not Christian countries,

They grew as Christian countries and brought Christianity to many parts of the world including Nigeria. Potentially going more secular today.

EagleNest:


They grew as Christian countries and brought Christianity to many parts of the world including Nigeria. Potentially going more secular today.

RELIGION IS NOT BY FORCE,IT IS PERSONAL,IF LIKE YOU ACCEPT OR REJECT, IT SHOULD NEVER CONCERN A STATE,PROVIDED YOU DONT USE IT TO HARM HUMANITY.

PARADIZEPRIEST:
RELIGION IS NOT BY FORCE,IT IS PERSONAL,IF LIKE YOU ACCEPT OR REJECT, IT SHOULD NEVER CONCERN A STATE,PROVIDED YOU DONT USE IT TO HARM HUMANITY.

That's absolutely correct!

athaboi:
Christians in those Arab countries are really suffering... someone might have framed them up. That's why I fear for Nigeria northern christians in event that Nigeria breaks up...they are in for horror experience

Pakistan is not an Arab country. It's a mooslem country.

EagleNest:
Pakistanis will go to US, UK, Canada and Australia - all Christian country - to live and study without harassment. And the fact they have not evolved from such mundane law of blasphemy is staggering.

Those countries are not Christian countries. They are all secular countries with Christianity as a major religion. The only "Christian" country (so to say) is the Vatican.

padi94:
This religion of piissss and sheet, them mumu everywhere.

There is a reason they are called MUslim.

HedwigesMaduro:


Those countries are not Christian countries. They are all secular countries with Christianity as a major religion. The only "Christian" country (so to say) is the Vatican.

Yes, their outward perspectives as a nation is secular however Christianity (both nominal and practising) is still predominant. Those who identify as non religious, are gradually increasing.