Lawyer voices hope for release of Pakistani scholar imprisoned 13 years

The lawyer representing Junaid Hafeez, a Pakistani scholar who has spent 13 years in prison, has expressed hope that a court will soon overturn his conviction, according to Deutsche Welle.

Hafeez, a former Fulbright scholar, was sentenced to death under Pakistan's controversial blasphemy laws. His case has drawn international attention over the years as an example of the severe legal consequences tied to blasphemy accusations in the country.

Both Hafeez's family and his lawyer told DW that they are now hopeful his conviction could be overturned, though the report did not specify the exact legal grounds for that optimism or a timeline for a court ruling.

Blasphemy cases in Pakistan have long drawn scrutiny from human rights organizations, which have raised concerns about due process and the severity of sentences handed down under the relevant laws. Hafeez's supporters continue to await further developments in his case.