Zafar Bhatti (62) died suddenly from a heart attack on Sunday 5 October, just two days after his release from prison following his acquittal by the Lahore High Court. It is understood that he died before medical help reached him.
Zafar had been in Rawalpindi’s Adiala Central Jail since July 2012, when he was charged with sending blasphemous text messages. At least 47 separate appeal hearings between 2017 and 2025 were adjourned by judges for a wide variety of reasons and in recent years several recommendations by prison authorities for his release on bail on medical grounds were ignored.
People who met Zafar after his release reported that he seemed to be in reasonable health and in good spirits. He had been reunited with his wife Nawab and was looking forward to the future.
Zafar’s heart condition was well known. In 2019, his doctor said he was in danger of suffering another heart attack after suffering two minor attacks and added that a third could kill him. Zafar suffered a further heart attack in 2020 after which his lawyers called for his release on bail on medical grounds. In early 2025, the prison doctor stated that Zafar had critical heart disease, his heart function was at only 10%, and that there were no further treatment options available.
“Failed by Pakistan’s judicial system”
Responding to the news of his death, David Turner (Director, Church in Chains) said, “We are shocked by the news of Zafar’s sudden death and are greatly saddened that he and his wife Nawab had such a short time together following his release from prison.
“Zafar was an innocent man who was failed by Pakistan’s judicial system. We have followed his case ever since he was arrested thirteen years ago. He should never have been convicted, it should not have taken eight years for an appeal to be heard and he should have been allowed bail on medical grounds in recent years as recommended by the prison authorities. The fact that widespread international concern about his plight (Church in Chains advocated on his behalf to successive Pakistani ambassadors to Ireland) was ignored is deeply disappointing.
“We encourage our supporters now to pray for Zafar’s widow Nawab who had waited so long for his release and whose joy has so suddenly turned to grief.”
(Church in Chains sources)