Pakistan: Rimsha’s Blasphemy Case Challenged in Supreme Court
January 15, 2013 by admin
Filed under newsletter-asia
Everyone thought Pakistan was moving towards justice, now again the blasphemy case against Rimsha Masih is challenged in the Supreme Court of Pakistan.
Pakistan, January 14, 2013: Rimsha was arrested from a slum in Islamabad on 16 August, 2012 last year after a neighbour accused her of burning pages of Norani Qaida bearing verses from the Quran, a violation of Pakistan’s blasphemy laws under section 295B PPC. She suffered three weeks on remand in an adult jail in the case that prompted worldwide condemnation.
The charges against Rimsha led to the exodus of dozens of poor Christian families from the neighbourhood Meranabadi. On 31 August 2012, in a rare show of courage, Hafiz Zubair, came forward as a witness and told a investigation officer that Chishti had planted evidence against Rimsha Masih, saying that the cleric deliberately put charred pages inscribed with Quranic verses in the ashes brought to him by a young man and police arrested Chishti, he was also granted bail.
She was granted bail in September 2012 last year and shifted to safe place, she was freed and taken to secret place by helicopter to avoid mob justice.
The lawyer of Rimsha filed application for quashing FIR and was accepted and the allegation and case was dismissed by Islamabad High Court on 20 November 2012 last year which drew international condemnation.
It was appreciated all over the world that Pakistan was moving towards justice.
Now again the blasphemy case against Rimsha Masih is challenged and fixed for 15 January 2013, in Supreme Court of Pakistan.
The feeling of fear has been arisen among Pakistani Christian community after this case and particularly the other blasphemy accused, said Cheif of LEAD.
Martha Bibi accused of blasphemy was also granted bail in 2007 and now facing trial in Lahore for final verdict of court.
On October 22, 2012, Khuram Shahzad accused of blasphemy under section 295B PPC was also granted bail and now his trial of case has been conducting in Lahore.
– LEAD