A doctor has been arrested for allegedly committing blasphemy by insulting the Prophet Mohammed in Pakistan, in a second high profile case, throwing the spotlight on the country’s controversial anti-blasphemy laws.

Naushad Valiyani was detained following a complaint by a medical representative, who visited the doctor.

“The arrest was made after the complainant told the police that Valiyani threw his business card, which had his full name, Muhammad Faizan, in a dustbin,” the regional police chief Mushtaq Shah said.

“Faizan accused Valiyani of committing blasphemy and asked police to register a case against the doctor,” he added.

Shah said the issue had been resolved after Valiyani, a member of Pakistan’s Ismaili community, apologised, but religious leaders intervened and pressed for action.

“Valiyani had assured Faizan that he did not mean to insult the Prophet,” Shah said, adding that the police had registered a case.

The blasphemy law has been widely criticized by human rights groups following the case of Asia Bibi, a Christian woman sentenced to death last month for insulting Islam.

Critics say the law should be amended because it is often used to settle grudges and persecute minorities.