ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court has set aside the death sentence of a Christian man, Anwar Keneth, after medical evaluations confirmed that he was suffering from a serious mental disorder at the time of the alleged offence.
A three-judge bench headed by Justice Athar Minallah and comprising Justice Irfan Saadat Khan and Justice Malik Shahzad Ahmad Khan announced the verdict, ruling that Keneth — convicted under Section 295-C of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) — could not be held criminally responsible due to his mental condition, as his illness raised serious doubt about his capacity to form criminal intent, or mens rea.
Keneth, son of Veera Masih, had been convicted and sentenced to death by a Lahore trial court in 2002 for writing a letter deemed blasphemous. His conviction was upheld by the Lahore High Court in 2014. The Supreme Court converted his jail petition into an appeal in 2017.
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During the proceedings, the apex court sought expert opinions from the Council of Islamic Ideology and ordered a medical evaluation by the Punjab Institute of Mental Health (PIMH).
A medical board — headed by the Director General Health Services Punjab and comprising seven specialists in psychiatry and neurology — diagnosed Keneth with Bipolar Affective Disorder.
The board’s report stated that Keneth experienced delusions and auditory hallucinations, believing he was chosen by God and destined to become the “King of Israel.”
His writings and conduct reflected symptoms of mania and delusional thinking. The board added that Keneth had not received any psychiatric treatment at the time of the incident but responded positively to medication after being admitted to PIMH in December 2024. By May 2025, his condition had stabilised.
The Executive Director of PIMH and a psychiatry professor from King Edward Medical University appeared before the court to confirm the diagnosis, noting that the content of the letter — the basis of the case — exhibited traits of his mental disorder.
Justice Minallah observed that the letter contained references to biblical verses, grandiose claims, and religious delusions consistent with a psychiatric illness.
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He noted that the appellant’s behaviour during investigation and trial had also shown signs of abnormality, yet neither the prosecution nor the trial court had sought a mental health evaluation at that time.
The judgment said the prosecution’s evidence was limited, with only two witnesses produced and no testimony from the investigating officer. It emphasised that in criminal cases, guilt must be proven beyond reasonable doubt — a principle that applies even when the accused fails to establish a defence plea.
The Supreme Court concluded that the medical evidence created sufficient doubt about the presence of criminal intent. “The benefit of doubt is, therefore, extended in favour of the appellant,” the judgment read, acquitting Keneth of all charges and setting aside the verdicts of the lower courts.
The court directed that Keneth, now 74, who has spent around 23 years in prison — most of it on death row — be released immediately if not required in any other case. It also instructed PIMH to ensure his treatment continues.
Justice Minallah reaffirmed that executing or punishing a person suffering from a proven mental disorder would violate both law and fundamental human rights, reiterating principles established in the Safia Bano case.