A young Christian man has been charged with burning “holy pages” under the blasphemy laws after he had an argument with some Muslim boys over a snooker game in Muhalla Siddiqabad area of Farooqabad, Sheikhupura district, Pakistan Today has learnt.
Farooqabad Police arrested Sajid Inayat, 20, on Friday and charged him under Section 295-B after Muslims of the area accused him of setting on fire holy pages placed in a box on an electricity pole, his cousin Irfan Manzoor told Pakistan Today.
Section 295-B makes willful desecration of the Holy Quran or use of an extract in a derogatory manner punishable with life imprisonment.
Irfan said that his paternal cousin had been falsely accused because he had had an argument with some local Muslim boys over a snooker game just two days before the alleged incident.
“Sajid was heading to his shop [of construction material and scrap] on Friday morning when he came across the Muslim boys with whom he had a squabble the other day. The boys accused Sajid of setting fire to a box fixed on a nearby pole…he asked them why he would do such a thing but on their constant prodding, he dared them to do whatever they wanted and walked away.”
As soon as Sajid left, the boys raised a clamor and a mob gathered at the scene, said Irfan.
“Panic among Christians spread and several people left their houses anticipating violence. We informed local Muslim leaders about the acrimony between Sajid and the Muslim boys and they told us that they would consider the matter after Isha prayers. However, around 5pm the police took Sajid in its custody and registered a case against him [FIR No. 297/12] under Section 295-B on the complaint of one Muhammad Sharullah Zaman,” Irfan said.
“The situation was tense on Friday and Saturday and several people had moved to other places but now the chief of a local religious organization, Karwaan-e-Islam, has assured us that no Christian would be harmed,” he said, adding that around 20-25 Christian families lived in the area.
“There are no witnesses to the charges made against Sajid. The allegation leveled against him is baseless and stems from a personal grudge,” he said.
Sheikhupura District Police Officer Dr Haider Ashraf told Pakistan Today that they had sent Sajid to the prison on judicial remand.
“The matter is of serious nature and we are investigating it from all angles,” he said, adding that the enquiry was being conducted by a SP rank official and justice would be administered on merit.
Dr Haider said that the situation was tense on the first day “but now things are under control and there is no imminent threat to Christian families settled in the area”.
Of course, such cases mostly occure in and around Lahore. It is center of religious fanaticism.
I'm totally agreed with you. However it is interesting to note that why not punish to the false accuser who took revenge against the Christian boy to settle his personal grudge. This has not only created fear amongst the poor Christian community it also deprive them to attend their jobs. It is a time for all Muslim to stand and against the voice to arrest such people so that these people will not bring for shame Islam secondly no one will take law in their hands.
So bad…:( The anti-blasphemy law being used to meet one's own, loathesome ends…:(
Mullahs have taken our country to the dogs, this religious intolerance has to stop.
How many innocent you have to charge under this draconian law. So burning unusable pages of a holy book is blasphemy. Get over it Pakistan. You are too much consumed by religion and its dogmatic messages.
Killing innocents is blasphemy, steeling is blasphemy, framing an innocent person and getting her/him punished is blasphemy, and not burning the pages of a holy book. Now you tell me when you frame an innocent, are you not going against the teachings of Islam. And how about killing innocents to establish your emirates or republic of terror? So —–.
You are not a Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Muslim, or Sikh. You are munnafic who kill innocent people. You bloody mean spirited small time terrorists.
***KING hell another false allegation liars against poor monirity. I ask much bigger criminals are sitting in president house and prime minister house. Selling drugs and narcotic is bigger crime. get that man and his son. Looting and pludering nation of 60 Million Dollrs is much bigger crime. Raping nation and causing misery to people is bigger crime. GET THE PEOPLE RESPONSIBLE FOR THESE CRIME.
duh …
So, you turned this event into an opportunity to make political capital out of it.
Kal aik Hindu temple ho tora aur aaj Christian larkey ko jail bhej diya hai. Allah ka wasta hai hosh karo musalmano……
zyada mamey na bano in key
Those who level these false charges should be given an exemplary punishment. However there is no justice in third world countries like Pakistan and India. Please note Mr Iftikhar Chaudhry, the Chief Justice of Pakistan who only occupies himself with political stuff.
the news of this country have started to look more and more like that of uncivilized generations. When I get the chance, I’ll pack my bags and leave. Stupid ‘Pakistan’.
For God,s sake let's stop making fool of ourselves and try to become a mature society.
Whenever there is a querrel between a muslim and non-muslim in Pakistan, it has become a habit to charge non-muslims under blasphemy law. It is a black law to prosecute non-muslims. While playing snooker, from where Christian got the holy pages? Logically it can not be explained. if a non-muslim girl of 8 years wrongly spells Quran, she is punished under this blasphemy law. Muslims are using the law as a shield and as a sword as well. Strange people.
One of our teachers in school used to say people think God is a fool. They go on agonising others the whole day and, then, in the evening they sing praises to God.
Allow minorities to leave Pakistan in dignity.they can lead a honourable and dignified life without fear elsewhere.the nation owes it to the minorities who are unfortunate trapped in a society where the majority is insensitive and does not seem to feel their pain.
Actually, it's either that law or the nation itself that bears the law should not exist. It's an insult to humanity …
We being Pakistani should learn to respect humanity, our daily life is full of corruption and looting. not only politicians we ourselves are corrupt.
This is so much alarming situation for Pakistani Christians. I dont know why relevant authorities put a deaf ear and blind eye on it. All the cases reported against Christians are totally false not even single case is real, then why don't they punish the culprits who registered fake cases against minorities. Those who trap innocent Christians in fake blasphemy laws actually they should be punished with high handed so in future no one will dare to trap anyone in these false cases. I dont understand that burning of unusable pages of a holy book is blasphemy?
May God protect all the minorities of Pakistan from HARDCORE Religious Fanatics.
, are not they
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