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”.
Christian charged with blasphemy ‘after snooker quarrel’
