Pak lawyer defending blasphemy accused receives 'beheading threat' letter from IS

Karachi: A lawyer defending three blasphemy accused has reportedly received a letter from the Islamic State (IS) warning him against pursuing the cases.

Shahbaz Gurmani is representing Junaid Hafeez, a visiting lecturer at the Bahauddin Zakariya University, Khalil Qadri and Saleem Aslam, who are being tried for blasphemy in court, reported the Dawn.

The lawyer said that he was informed about gunshots being fired outside his home at about 9:30 pm by his brother. When he returned home and was having dinner at 12:15 am, he heard a knock at the main gate. On reaching the gate with his security guard, he asked who it was. He then, heard the sound of a motorcycle leaving and found the letter.

Referring to Rashid Rehman 's death, the counsel who had represented Junaid Hafeez in the blasphemy case earlier, the letter warned that the terror group will behead Gurmani if he didn't stop. It said that the group was well aware of the places the lawyer visited and warned that they do not miss their target.

Gurmani said that he had informed the police about the incident and submitted an application for an FIR. He added that he was not afraid of threats and would stand by the aggrieved even if the police did not provide any security to him. He said he would arrange for his own protection.

The Gulgasht police have registered an FIR against unidentified persons.

Regional Police Officer Amjad Javed Saleemi said that the police was investigating the matter.