ICC Note:
The month of October saw at least three new blasphemy cases filed against Christian in Pakistan. Pakistan’s controversial blasphemy law makes it illegal to defile a Quran, insult the honor of the prophet Muhammad and injure religious feelings. The punishment for these crimes varies, but in the cases of defiling a Quran or insulting the honor of the prophet Muhammad, death or life imprisonment is often handed out by trial courts in Pakistan. Christian, who only make up around 2% of Pakistan’s population, are disproportionately accused and convicted under the blasphemy laws because these laws are abused to settle scores, eliminate business rivals and abuse religious minorities. Please pray for those accused of blasphemy last month.  
11/11/2013 Pakistan (Salem News) – On 9 October, 2013 a blasphemy case FIR No.675/2013 under sections 295 A, 295 B and 295 C PPC was registered at Police Station Township by nominating three Christians. The pre-arrest bail of Pastor Adnan, 26 was filled on 26 October, 2013 in the court of Additional and Sessions Judge Khizar Hayat Khan and was fixed for final arguments for 6 November, 2013 but the petitioned was withdrawn without arguing the case.
The Police had arrested Mushtaq Masih, the owner of the shop, who was innocent but his name was mentioned in the FIR (First Incident Report). Arfan Masih, the brother of Pastor Adnan, was also arrested as his name was also mentioned in the FIR, but he was also innocent. The third man Kamran, the Uncle of Pastor Adnan, was also under police custody which was illegal. So there was much pressure from Mushtaq Masih’s side and due to under police custody of other innocent members of Adnan’s family, Pastor Adnan surrendered himself to Police and on Thursday November 7 he was sent to judicial lockup by Judicial Magistrate Muzamil Ahmed Khan.
The good news is that the police set free innocent Mushtaq, Arfan and Kamran who has suffered nearly a month in police custody.
“We think it is not wise decision of Masih to surrender in Police custody because it is too hard to prove him innocent in trial court as there is a documentary evidence against him” said Advocate Sardar Mushtaq Gill.
“And the accuser stated to Police that the both his employer, Mushtaq Masih and Arfan Masih are innocent and they have no role in committing the blasphemy offences so the police at last has to set them free”, added Gill.
The other blasphemy case FIR No.678/2013 under Sections 295 A,295 B,295 C PPC and 25/D Telegraph Act was registered at Police Station Green Town on October 2,2013 against Asif Pervaiz. He was kept in a special cell at Camp Jail in Lahore. The bail petition of Asif Pervaiz has been filled in the session court Lahore and fixed for 11 November for final arguments.
On 27 October,2013 third blasphemy case FIR No. 533/13 registered at Sadar Police Station, Wazirabad against two brothers Tariq Masih and Arif Masih under section 295 B PPC on the complaint of Muhammad Khuram, in which Arif Masih was arrested but Tariq Masih remains in hiding. Police and Islamic extremists are involved in the hunt for Masih who is accused of ‘Blasphemy’. The bail petition has been filed in which next date of hearing is 23 November, 2013.
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