The case against Junaid Jamshed, a member of the deeply
conservative Tableeghi Jamaat organization, was brought by
Mobeen Qadri, a member of the religious political party Sunni
Tehreek.
Blasphemy is punishable by death in Muslim-majority Pakistan.
But the law does not define what is blasphemous - anyone can
file a case alleging their religious feelings were hurt for any
reason.
Qadri filed the case against Jamshed after he used the example
of one of Prophet Muhammad's wives to illustrate an argument
about the failings of women in a video.
"Now the case is with the investigators," said Mehmood Ahmed, a
police officer in Karachi. "We will have to arrest Junaid
Jamshed and it is up to him if he moves bail and goes to court
against this."
After the video went viral, Jamshed released a video apology.
"This is my mistake and it is because of my ignorance, because
of my lack of knowledge," the 50-year-old said. "With a clean
heart I ask that Allah forgive me and I beg and beseech all
Muslims to forgive me. This was not on purpose."
Rights groups say the law is mostly used against minorities and
the poor to settle personal scores or seize property.
Before becoming a preacher, Jamshed was a pop star with a string
of chart-topping songs and albums. He retired in 2001 and
announced that he was devoting his life to Islam.
Jamshed has previously drawn criticism for saying that women
should not be allowed to drive or leave home without a male
guardian.
(Editing by Katharine Houreld and Jeremy Laurence)
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