The group of Christians have been charged with lynching two men they suspected were involved in twin suicide bombings targeting a Sunday Mass at two churches in a Christian neighbourhood in Lahore on 15 March 2015.
According to the Pakistani newspaper the Express Tribune, the men remained silent in court after the proposal of acquittal was made to them until one of the accused, Irfan Masih, said he would rather be hanged than denounce Christianity.
Naseeb Anjum, counsel to some members of the group, said the judge had made the same proposition to the men six months ago.
He said it felt like the judge was blackmailing them before adding: "The government should get rid of such elements that bring bad name to the state by such acts."
Pakistan
Population: 196.7 million (3.9 million Christians)
Main Religion: Islam
Government: Islamic republic
Open Doors World Watch List Rank: 4
Source of Persecution: Islamic extremism
An estimated 700 Christian women and girls are abducted every year in Pakistan
The Easter 2016 bombing in Lahore by the Taliban was aimed at Christians, and killed at least 69 people
Source: Open Doors UK
Speaking on News Hour, Wilson Chowdhry, chairman of the British Pakistani Christian Association said the case reflects badly on the country's attitude to religion.
"For me this is a clear indication that Christians hold a pariah status and that there is a cultural genocide designed to annihilate any form of Christianity or minority faith in Pakistan."
Chowdhry added that the legal system has to change.
"I believe that the best way for British people to bring about change in Pakistan is contacting their MPs and asking for that foreign aid budget to be utilised as a lever for change; a change to the poor human rights record that seems to be worsening in Pakistan.
Listen to Marcus Jones speaking to Wilson Chowdhry here: