Shafqat Emmanuel and Shagufta Kausar, a Pakistani Christian couple who have endured six years on death row after a “blasphemy” conviction, are due to have their appeal hearing in the High Court in Lahore on September 10.

The couple, who have four children, were convicted in April 2014 of sending “blasphemous” text messages to two Muslims. Their appeal was due to be held in June but was adjourned twice.

Their case will be presented by Saif-ul-Mulook, a Muslim lawyer who in October 2018 secured the acquittal of Christian mother-of-five Asia Bibi after she was convicted of “blasphemy” in 2009. He will tell the High Court that the illiterate couple were incapable of writing text messages and did not receive a fair trial.

Barnabas Fund