Rimsha’s ordeal ends, judge orders her release on bail

The court of an additional sessions judge on Friday granted bail to blasphemy accused Christian girl Rimsha Masih ending her three-week ordeal in a case which sparked an outcry in Pakistan and across the world.
Additional Sessions Judge Mohammad Azam Khan resumed hearing in the bail plea of 14-year-old Rimsha Masih, who was arrested on August 16 from Mehra Jafar for allegedly burning pages of the Holy Quran. The court heard the arguments from both sides and ordered the release of the accused girl against two surety bonds worth Rs 0.5 million each. During the proceedings, a large number of security personnel, lawyers, members of civil society and representatives of national and international media organizations were present in and outside the court to hear the decision. Tahir Naveed Chaudhry, the head counsel for Rimsha, submitted before the court that in the light of the medical board’s findings, his client was a juvenile, hence she was entitled to bail. The lawyer further submitted that according to the FIR, the girl did not burn pages of the Holy Quran, instead she was accused of burning pages of a Noorani Qaida. He argued that Rimsha was a minor girl and according to Pakistani laws, minors were entitled to bail in all cases except terrorism, killing and kidnapping.
On the other hand, the defense lawyer claimed that the accused girl in her statement before the police had confessed that she burnt pages of Noorani Qaida. The lawyer requested the court not to allow bail to the minor girl.
District Attorney Mahfooz Hafiz Piracha also argued that since the accused girl had confessed her crime, she should not be granted bail.
The attorney alleged that the police twisted the case in the accused girl’s favor.
He said the accused girl had stated her age to the magistrate as 16 years and now doctors and police were claiming that she was 14 years old. The district attorney also told the court that complainant of the case was receiving threats.
Munir Jafri, investigation officer of the case, told the court that when complainant of the case brought evidence before cleric Khalid Jadoon, he added two pages of the Holy Quran with an intention to make a stronger case against the Christian girl. According to police sources, the cleric wanted to get the area vacated from the Christian community. The court later granted bail to the accused and directed the police to keep the girl under protective custody due to security reasons. The court also directed the police investigators to investigate the case carefully, as it was a sensitive issue. Rimsha’s lawyer said it was the first time anyone has been released on bail for blasphemy in Pakistan, where the inflammatory issue last year led to the assassination of two politicians.