Peshawar, July 09: A Pakistani court has sentenced a journalist to life imprisonment on the charge of publishing a blasphemous letter in a newspaper where he was employed, officials said today. Journalist Munawar Mohsin, 40, was responsible for publishing the blasphemous letter and was also fined rupees 50,000 (around 900 dollars), sessions court judge Sardar Irshad said in the verdict announced yesterday at Peshawar in North West Frontier Province (NWFP).
The letter by a man named Ben Dzec was carried in the 'Your Views' column of the Frontier Post English language daily, published from Peshawar and the eastern border city of Lahore, on January 29, 2001, where Mohsin was working as sub-editor.
“The accused Munawar Mohsin was responsible for selection of the letter in question and subsequently he sent the same for the purpose of printing" the court stated.
"The evidence on record reflects accused Munawar has intentionally and willfully committed an offence under the Pakistan Penal Code," the court said.
Bureau Report