“Faisalabad: June 25, 2010. (PCP) A 73 year old Christian named Rehmat Masih son of Barkat Masih resident of village Jandwali Chak # 165/RB, Teshil Jhumra, District Faisalabad has been charged under blasphemy law vide FIR # 321 dated 19th June 2010, under section 295-C of Pakistan Penal Code with Police Station Jhumra, for making derogatory remarks about Prophet Muhammad and his wife Hazrat Khadija. He was arrested from his residence on the same day and presently he is behind the bars in District Jail Faisalabad. He will be reappeared before Magistrate Muhammad Sajawal on 4th July 2010 for complete challan. It is learned that the charge is clearly based on false allegations due to some land dispute between the accuser Sajid Hameed and the Christian community. This case of land dispute is still pending before civil courts. The overall law and order situation in the said area is clam and no unpleasant incident is happened till now, but Christian residents are fearful due to attacks by Muslim mob on Christian settlements as taken place in the history of Pakistan after such blasphemy incidents. ”
Background and Detail of the Incident:
“According to local sources, Dr. Palus (one of the relative of Rehmat Masih) told to NCJP’s coordinator Shahid Anwar that dates back in April 2010, Rehmat Masih had some serious discussion over religion with some Muslims of his village. Both the parties exchanged remarks in favour of each other’s faith. At that time, no untoward incident took place but after the silence of two months, this matter was brought into light again in June by some Muslims of the village namely Sajid Hameed (Accuser), Shahbaz Khalid, Afzaal Bashir. On 10th June, they spread rumors in the locality that Rehmat Masih has committed blasphemy by passing remarks against the Prophet Muhammad. After hearing the news of blasphemy, a Muslim delegation came to Dr. Palus and complaint against Rehmat Masih for his sacrilegious act. Dr. Palus told them to calm down and to reconcile the matter peacefully. ”
“On 19th June, the police of Chak Jhumra arrested Rehmat Masih (accused) from his residence on the complaint of Sajid Hameed for disgracing Prophet Muhammad. On 20th June, police presented him before Magistrate Muhammad Sajawal and sent him to the lockup on judicial remand. ”
“On 23rd June 2010, Shahid Anwar (Coordinator-National Commission of Justice and Peace) visited Rehmat Masih (accused) in District Jail, and collected some facts regarding the incident. During the interview in jail, Rehmat Masih stated that while he was on his duty two months ago, some Muslims namely Muhammad Amir, Akbar Ali and Ashgar Ali came to him and started asking questions about Christianity. Muhammad Amir asked Rehmat Masih about Hazrat Mariam (mother Mary, mother of Jesus), but in reply, Rehmat Masih asked Muhammad Amir about Hazrat Khadija (wife of Prophet Mohammad). They exchanged arguments with each other and then moved to their homes peacefully. ”
“Dr. Palus also added that complainant Sajid Hameed has falsely implicated Rehmat Masih in this case, because he has some interpersonal and land dispute with Christian community. It is also learned that Shahbaz Khalid and Afzaal Bashir who are named in the FIR as witness, has political differences with Rehmat Masih, therefore they are trying to involve Rehmat Masih in the fabricated case in order to take political revenge.”
