A major development has emerged in the pornographic blasphemy cases in Pakistan. On Saturday, October 17, 2026, a Lahore Additional District and Sessions Court announced its verdict in a blasphemy case registered by the Cyber Crime Wing of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) under FIR No. C-104/22. Additional District and Sessions Judge Nusrat Ali Siddiqui Malik ruled that the prosecution had proved all charges against the accused beyond any doubt. The court sentenced four accused Muhammad Shoaib Sarwar, Arsalan Akram, Saqib Ali and Hassan Raza to death under Section 295-C of the Pakistan Penal Code, along with a fine of Rs500,000 each.
They were also sentenced to life imprisonment under Section 295-B, while additional punishments involving imprisonment and fines were imposed under Sections 295-A and 298-A and the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016. The death sentences remain subject to confirmation by the Lahore High Court, for which a reference will be sent to the High Court. The convicts have the right to appeal within 30 days.
Background of the Tayyab Bin Arif Related Case
The case originated from a complaint filed by a citizen concerning a WhatsApp group created under the name “Qur’anic Education.” According to the complaint, highly objectionable and blasphemous material was being circulated through different mobile numbers in the group. An FIA technical report traced one of the numbers. On May 24, 2022, an FIA team conducted a raid at the residence of Tayyab Bin Arif in Lahore. During the raid, a laptop and two mobile phones were recovered. The forensic examination of these devices established that highly blasphemous material against the Holy Quran and sacred Islamic personalities was being shared through Facebook and WhatsApp groups.
Gang Leader Tayyab Bin Arif Declared Proclaimed Offender and Fugitive
One of the most significant aspects of FIR No. 104/22 is the involvement of Tayyab Bin Arif as a central accused in the case. According to the court record described in the case, Tayyab Bin Arif has been declared a Proclaimed Offender and fugitive. The court findings describes Tayyab Bin Arif as one of the major leaders of the organised blasphemous group and the head of a group known as “Hizb al-Shaytan.” He claimed to be a prophet of Satan on behalf of Iblis, his group operated across different social media platforms and committed acts involving:
Blasphemy against the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ
Blasphemy against Islam
Blasphemy against the Holy Quran
Blasphemy against the Ahl al-Bayt
Blasphemy against the Umhat-ul Mu’mneen
Blasphemy against the Companions of the Prophet ﷺ
Tayyab Bin Arif obtained bail through fake bail bonds and subsequently fled Pakistan, while his four associates have now been sentenced to death by the court.
Ministry of Religious Affairs, FIA and PTA: Startling Figures
Official reports from government and investigative institutions are presented as evidence of the scale of the organised network. According to a report from the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony, more than 400,000 social media accounts involved in spreading blasphemous content in Pakistan have been exposed. The FIA has also confirmed the figure. According to the ministry, highly organised activities were being carried out across different social media platforms and groups involving material against Allah Almighty, Prophet Muhammad ﷺ , Ahl al-Bayt, Umhat-ul Mu’mneen, Companions of the Prophet ﷺ and The Holy Quran.
According to official FIA documents, several individuals have been arrested following complaints received from the Punjab Quran Board concerning blasphemy against the Holy Quran and religion on social media. The accounts of the accused were taken into custody and legal proceedings were initiated.
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) informed the Peshawar High Court that 1,070,000 web links had been blocked after objectionable and obscene content was identified. A petition before the Peshawar High Court had requested directions to the PTA and other relevant authorities to block blasphemous links available on social media platforms. The material also highlights detailed decisions of the Lahore High Court and Sindh High Court, in which judges issued strong observations and directions concerning the network.
Decision by Pakistani Judiciary
On March 6, 2025, Lahore High Court Justice Chaudhry Abdul Aziz issued a detailed judgment in “Umar Nawaz and Others vs Deputy Director FIA and Others.” The case concerned demands for legal action against blasphemous material, religious hatred and offensive content against sacred personalities on social media. According to the judgment, officials from the PTA and FIA appeared before the court and confirmed that social media platforms were being extensively used to upload religiously hateful and blasphemous material. The source highlights the seriousness of the material by quoting Justice Chaudhry Abdul Aziz as stating that the hateful content uploaded through social media posts targeting Islam and other religions was so provocative that its details could not even be recorded in the immediate judgment. The Lahore High Court was also presented with a comprehensive action plan involving 10 federal and 5 provincial institutions to address the issue.
A detailed judgment by Sindh High Court Justice Umar Sial. According to the judgment, the evidence collected demonstrated that the activity was not the work of a single individual but involved an entire group. The judgment called for action against the broader network. Considering the sensitivity of the matter, Justice Umar Sial directed the Director General FIA, Director General Intelligence Bureau (IB), and Director General Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) to closely examine the entire network from the perspective of national security and organised crime.
Calls to Arrest Fugitive Gang Leader Tayyab Bin Arif
The Lahore court’s decision sentencing the four accused in the pornographic blasphemy case to death has been welcomed by religious scholars, religious and social circles, and members of the public. The decision has been described as a major development against the organised activity of spreading blasphemous material through social media and as a source of relief for millions of Muslims. However, alongside welcoming the verdict, religious scholars and members of the public have called upon the Government of Pakistan and state institutions to ensure that Tayyab Bin Arif, described in the findings as a major leader of the group and a claimant to the prophethood of Satan, is not left free.
Tayyab Bin Arif obtained bail through fake bail bonds and fled the country, the Government of Pakistan should use its state and diplomatic resources as well as Interpol mechanisms to immediately arrest him and bring him back to Pakistan. It further calls for Tayyab Bin Arif to face the legal consequences of the case in the same manner as his four associates who have now been sentenced to death.
FAQs
Tayyab Bin Arif is identified as a central accused in FIR No. 104/22 and a leader of the group referred to as Hizb al-Shaytan. He has been declared a Proclaimed Offender and fugitive according to the court record.
The court sentenced the four accused to death and a fine of Rs500,000 each under Section 295-C.
The verdict was announced on October 17, 2026.
