Some 150 families of Joseph Colony in Badami Bagh police precincts were forced to abandon their homes on Friday after a local Christian youth was charged with blasphemy by area residents.
According to details, Sawan Masih was alleged of committing blasphemy by a local barber, Imran following which the police registered an FIR No 112/13 under Section 295-C against the Christian man.
Police sources told Pakistan Today that Imran accused Sawan of disrespecting the Holy Prophet (PBUH), provoking the local Muslims to attack houses of Christians. They said that Sawan managed to escape from the scene before the angry mob could harm him.
Police reached the venue as soon as they were intimated about the situation and managed to calm the mob by taking into custody Sawan’s father Chandar Masih.
At the police station, Chandar denied that his son had committed blasphemy saying they held the Holy Prophet (PBUH) in high esteem. He asked Imran to swear on the Holy Quran that his son had in fact said anything offensive against the Holy Prophet (PBUH).
Badami Bagh Station House Officer Hafiz Abdul Majid told Pakistan Today that preliminary investigations showed that Imran had falsely accused Sawan of blasphemy but they were forced to register a case against the Christian youth to placate the furious mob who were pelting stones at Christians’ houses.
He said a heavy police contingent had been deployed in the area to prevent violence. “Some religious elements are trying to exploit the situation for their vested interests but we will try and ensure that no person is harmed by such elements who only want to foment religious strife,” he added.