Pakistan Judges Defend Blasphemy Ruling

Protesters in Pakistan target Supreme Court Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa.

Pakistan's Supreme Court has defended its top judge after a ruling he issued related to blasphemy that sparked an online backlash and led to thinly veiled death threats.

The campaign targeting Supreme Court Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa began after he ordered the release of a man from the Ahmadi religious sect, considered heretical by hardline Muslim scholars.

The man had been accused of disseminating a forbidden Ahmadi text, which firebrand clerics consider tantamount to blasphemy –- a hot-button issue in Muslim-majority Pakistan where even unproven allegations of offending Islam have sparked violence.

The Supreme Court issued a statement defending the ruling, denying that it went against the Islamic constitution.

"This impression is absolutely wrong," it said. "The organized campaign against the judiciary and judges is unfortunate."

Isa's ruling first went unnoticed two weeks ago, before it was highlighted by social media accounts linked to the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan party behind violent anti-blasphemy protests.

The Pakistani chapter of the Taliban militant group -- known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan-- called Isa "an enemy of Islam" and "a damned man".

But the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan said his ruling "protects the constitutional right of all religious minorities to freedom of religion or belief".

"Those political leaders and sections of the media that are responsible for this campaign must be restrained," the organization said on social media.

Ahmadis have been discriminated against and persecuted for decades in Pakistan, because of their belief in a 19th century prophet after Muhammad.

The second amendment of Pakistan's constitution, made in 1974, declares Ahmadis non-Muslims.