RAWALPINDI: Police have arrested prayer leader Khalid Jadoon on charges of fabricating evidence, which he had used to accuse Rimsha Masih of committing blasphemy by allegedly burning Quranic pages, Express News reported early on Sunday.
Express News correspondent Qamarul Munawar said that Hafiz Muhammad Zubair, who witnessed Jadoon adding pages of the Quran, recorded a statement with the Rawalpindi magistrate on Saturday.
According to Zubair’s account, he was sitting in Iteqaaf in the mosque when some people handed burnt pages to the prayer leader. After a little while, Jadoon added additional pages of the Quran to the pile.
Zubair, in his statement added that three other people present with him in the mosque asked Jadoon why he was adding documents to the pile of burnt paper, to which prayer leader said that such an act was necessary to strengthen their case.
Munawar reported that Islamabad police has now arrested Jadoon who are now questioning him.
Rimsha has been in custody since she was arrested more than two weeks ago accused of burning Quranic papers, in breach of Pakistan’s blasphemy laws. According to medical reports Rimsha is 14 year old minor, and has a mental age below her real age.
COMMENTS (123)
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It is heartening to see the tremendous support by Pakistanis for that which is right. Live long!
Just to look at the face of this cowardly man "Jadoon", tells a picture of ignorance and intolerance. Those who supported his false accusations are guilty of sin حَرَام ḥarām.
Pakistan Christians know this - the prayers of Christians from around the world are with you. We note your pain and the difficult conditions under which you live. Be strong and keep the Faith.
Does anyone really understand the meaning of trauma!Can they comprehend how that poor child and her family must have felt when a crowd attacked their house,when that poor girl was put behind the bar!Do we have any moral fabric left in our society,imagine this maulvi talking of Quran and how the Quran will be a source of nijat to him in the lifehereafter.It is this kind of hypocracy which has made our society into what it is now.Do they really understand the real spirit of our religion and real love for our Holy Prophet peace be upon him if they had they would have been against all such unjust laws and not in their favour.No one should forget this that anyone of us can become target of this madness muslim or non-muslim,maulwi or non-maulvi if we will not stop this madness now.
@Zaid Hamid: Glad to see you in form after a while.
Rimsha is 20 years old.
Where is Rao Raheem sahab when we need him? Is hi hiding or what?
Hang him! He is guilty of blasphemy! If no one does anything then we should just get rid of the blasphemy law. Let it be a lesson to all those who try and implicate minors and minorities!
Please check out the link http://www.flickr.com/photos/maciejdakowicz/157077851/ to see the reality of Rimsha's image being circulated in global media.
The duplicitous method by which Jinnah created Pakistan is being replicated at every level of the country. One can't plant datura seeds and expect mango tree out of it.
Get the psychoanalysis and medical report of the girl, in-case he was afraid she would call the authorities for his other sinister acts or plans about her(God Forbids). With the public, lawyers and Judiciary so inclined-to or scared-of extremists_ the National Assembly should let the Provinces Decide about the applications and interpretation of the Blasphemy law sighting their local extremism or moderation in public sentiments.
Christians are ready to forgive and demonstrate God’s love to Imam Kahlid Jadoon for his mischievous behavior. http://bit.ly/O56oDi
@Nasir: No doubt he will be tried under Blasphemy Law Those who dig pits for other fell in the same.
Other sections of conspiracy, distorting facts of evidence and common intention will also be applied.
Hang the blighter! He is a disgrace to Muslims and the religion of Islam which preached justice and fairness and tolerance.
Proverbs 26:27
"Whosoever digs a pit shall fall in it: and he that rolls a stone, it will return upon him."
What if a 'Qadri' had already assassinated Rimsha by the time news like this one came forward? Those (including the lawyer community) need to understand the danger in lawlessnessand vigilantism that they are encouraging.
this is the reality which will be behind the each case.religious leaders are putting the holy verses in the garbage nd blaming inocent people. how much this law provides power to hange non muslim pakistanis. we are selfly defaming the islam and teachings of holy prophet s.a.w.w
Please, please, let this girl go. She is too young to understand what is holy what is not. Urdu and Arabic look the same to untrained eyes, how is she going to know? A person can be held responsible to the degree of one's knowledge. She is no Abu Jahl! She is a child, for God's sake! The Prophet (peace be upon him) would probably speak to her with love and kindness, and explain! Fiqh means 'understanding'. Fools have too little of it. I am a Muslim, and I feel like hugging this kid like a father, and explain softly about her mistakes, if she indeed has committed it. When your heart cannot see, what good are your eyes?
@Cautious: "Maybe there is hope for Pakistan after all? However — a child with diminished capacity should have never been arrested regardless of what was burned — and someone please explain why the child remains in jail."
It was preplanned event from beginning to end. Girl was picked up because she was mentally retarded and Mullah knew she won't be able to explain things. This was done to terrorize Christians living in the area. This just shows Muslims can go very low to trap innocent people. This guy torn pages of Quran to get this girl and her family in trouble.
A good Muslim found the courage to speak up and should be protected. Mullah's follower may kill this guy before even he has chance to tell the court what he saw.
Seems like 4-5 people may be involved in this game.
Can we expect justice in this country?
I hope justice will be done...........................
I hope justice will be done after a complete investigation and the responsible person whoever they are must be punished according to the Isiamic Law..............
Wonder if they will shower him with rose petals like Mumtaz Qadri
Give him taste of his own medicine!!!
Respect for Mr Hafiz Muhammad Zubair!:) Speaking the truth isn't easy :)
Hating your Fellow country men just because the have a Different religion , and going to the extent of burning the Pages of a Sacred book ! why ? o why ? Dont hate Us so much .Pakistani Christians love Pakistan as much as you Do !
I feel shame being muslim myself, imagine for a moment why would a small girl would do such kind of act? why not fellow muslims understand this? if we start killing all minorioties in this country than a time will come when we start killing our own self. I humbly request all muslims to come out and for God sake support this non muslim girl. if not body seeing us right now, than tommorow Allah will not forgive us as we exploit His name for the sake of worldy matters.
Khalid Jadoon from Abbottabad a black spot over our City, Ruined the witness in Case of Rimsha Christian. This bad man must stop to enter into Our City and I request to all Muslims of Abbottabad (Hazara) including Christians (Biship of Abbottabad) to stand and bring out the rallies against this bad man Qari Khalid Jadoon. This is our Islamic religious duty.....
People may get primery lesson that uneducated Molvis misguide people for Fitna / Fasad.
I saw a news report that on the incident scene the Imam of the local mosque asked people to burn Rimsha alive, I believe he is the same Imam. How disturbing is the fact that mullas are abusing Islam for their sins, this Imam tampered the evidence, spoke a lie and asked people to burn the poor girl alive and Police beat Rimsha and her mother under pressure of complainants to avoid unrest. It is the most solid proof to the fact that blasphemy laws are being used to persecute and kill innocent minorities.
@jennifer: I totally agree, Jen....
This is indeed a good development. But is that the end of the story now?
@Ateeb: Mumtaz qadri is on death row, he's only a hero because people appreciate his stance on upholding a religious obligation when mr. Taseer tried to change it. In Islam anyone who blasphemes should be sentenced to death, but by the state and not due to vigilante justice. As for this disgraceful maulvi he should be punished severely for the unrest he created, a minimum would be life sentence. it should be a lesson to all us Muslims to be patient and rational when confronted by such matters instead of shunning an entire community.
Kudos to Mohammad Zubair for speaking up. There were others who saw what happened and chose to keep quiet even as a young 14 year old faced potential death. How do those people sleep in the night?
@Mohammad Ali Siddiqui: 101 percent I support you and many in Pakistan also. Inshallah, I will stand next to you when the citizens of Pakistan decide to take any physical action like a long march or protest.
The judge is complimented for his decision along with the ET correspondent and the persons in Ittekaaf. The voice of conscience is waking up and this molvi should get physically lashed for his irreligious and heretical act.
Salams to Pakistan
Nothing less than death for this prayer leader if fabrication is proved. As much blasphemy is condemnable so is false allegation of blasphemy.
Do away with this warped law--at least now!
Another ""QADRI"" in the making????
Some people recording their comments become worst then that prayer leader be careful fellow men
As per law,, he is also accused of blasphemy, the case should be file under blasphemy law act.
Oh people of Pakistan. Our lawmakers are too scared to amend the blasphemy law. I challenge the existing Government to even recommend any changes in the parliament. They are only interested in changing laws that don't suit them politically, such as the contempt of court law. This so called democracy is a gift for Pakistan and we deserve this because we brought these people to power. With love, A Pakistani
Now that there's been a turn about in this case, it would be interesting to hear the veiw that lawyer whose veiws were aired a few days ago and should the big gun of the clergy have something to add now.
@Saleem: "These so called religious leaders have turned society upside down. He must be given exemplary punishment so that other dare not do the same."" +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Soon lawyers will be showering this guy with rose petals.
at least the maulvi sided with the truth rather than the so called "protection of islam".
Testing time for Pakistan. God help the Pakistan Government if it can not provide necessary protection to the innocent 14 year-old girl, and the prayer leader goes scot free. There are a large number of loonies out on the streets who will want to kill or burn the poor child.
This guy has been giving sermons to the local community, Who is going to undo the damage he has done to their understanding of the religion.
How can a Khalid Jadoon add pages from the Q ? this is very very sad
Religious bigots like Jadoon and others of his ilk are gross anachronisms in our times. And I mean religious bigots of all descriptions, not just mullahs. It is high time they died out like the dinosaurs. Only poverty, lack of education, regimented indoctrination and exclusion from socioeconomic mainstream life can possibly produce such specimens, so these root causes must also be addressed.
Put this guy behind bars for life.
What evil men are amidst us! let us put an end to this blasphemy law please!
What a brave witness
The vandilized and Ziaed Blasphemy Law.
Another proof that blasphemy law is being abused by people for their vested interests. This law must be abolished or at least registration of case must be done only after a high level investigation team. This high level investigation team must be constituted at provincial level.
Salam and my praises and prayers for the witness who boldly came forward and this the right path to say the truth no matter what it takes.
Mr. Jadoon should be given an exemplary punishment for this crime
This Prayer Leader do a lot damage To Pakistan in world community. I heard He is just Middle Pass. May be He is not educated so He create problems to Pakistan
Now will our mullah party come out and protest to get this mullah punished?
Good news. I hope that the young child Rimsha will soon be united with her family.
This incident proves that the Blasphemy Law has no place in a country like Pakistan. Since it consists of 98% Muslim population who claim to live their life for Islam & by Islamic laws. No Muslim will dare to commit blasphemy of any kind. As for the non-Muslim Pakistanis, those innocent folks are already living a life of utter fear that they can't even dream of committing any such acts.
Hence it only seems to be used as a tool of exploitation by the illiterate Mullahs who by their stupid actions bring shame to the country as well as to those scholars of Islam who are trying hard to educate the people about the real Islam and its teachings. We Muslims living in US and other non-Muslim countries know very well what level of embarrassment we have to face when such incident takes place in Pakistan.
Hence forth the law should be abolished or at least made inactive for at least a foreseeable future. Islam is not in any danger in Pakistan.
Finally something positive happens!
Now release Rimsha and repeal the law.
@gp65: This man has given one more reason why the blasphemy law should be struck down and removed from statute books. Evidence can be and will be fabricated to get rid of innocent people.
Try him for blasphemy ...
@Bishop Dr. Ijaz Inayat: We have been saying for decades that this “LAW” is abused against the weak and specially the minorities. What do the bigots say now?
I hope this will encourage other people to come forward with truth to save other people who have been convicted for Blasphemy on false charges before.
Unless this guy is charged, tried and convicted for blasphemy, the law will be assumed to be towards systematic annihilation of minorities in Pakistan and not against religion.
I had a feeling this was a planned event. I did mention this in my previous comments related to this event. I am pleased to see a good Muslim finally had the courage to tell the truth. How can a Muslim do this, put Quran pages in trash to get others punished for Blasphemy.
There may not be enough evidence unless police can recover Quran from Mullah's residence with torn pages or if they still have burned pages that may carry this Mullah's finger prints. Lot of Muslims / Mullahs will stand with this guy to protect him.
In words of Martyr Salman Taseer " Kala kanoon hai yeh " I think people now can see the real meaning behind those words. : )
Watch Capitol Talk in which same guy give reason for his act.
"The Real Blasphemers are those who invent false charges against the innocent and spread it throughout."
Lets see the blasphemy law tried on him now... I wonder how many other mullahs have got away with such crimes...
Punish him for he brought shame to entire Pakistan. Blasphemy law should be amended ASAP so that no body can take advantage of it.
Why it so long for Zubair to come forward?
The Guy in the Picture is Qari Mohammad Chisti per BBC. Hope ET isnt making things up again...
Empire strikes back. In honor of Rimsha abolish the Blasphemy law or bare minimum amend it to make it applicable in rarest of rare cases. Wonder how many others were arrested and persecuted maliciously.
The girl, her family and the neighbor hood, all must be compensated for their pain, suffering and mental anguish caused by this Mullah. Those who physically attacked the child must be charged for their crime. A collective financial penalty must be imposed to deter involvement of crowd in such cases.
But nothing mentioned above is possible in Pakistan, the land of the pure Islamic conspirators.
Hang him if the following is true:
1- He added the pages of Quran i-e burned the Quran 2- He tried to accuse a poor non-Muslim child of blasphemy.
In Islam, we Muslims are supposed to be the protectors of the non-Muslims. What have we become just because of our lack of knowledge and understanding of our religion.
This Maulana Jadoon should be tried under blasphemy charge since he burnt the Quran pages. He and his supporters should be tried and given the punishment. This is what justice demands.
This is false accusation. Mullah Jaddon has a mental age much below his real age.
Salam alykum Nice2 hear d news abt witnesses whom turn d table, i hope that justice will b given 2 girl as wel as mulla jadoon, lag pata jayega!
We have been saying for decades that this "LAW" is abused against the weak and specially the minorities.t
What do the bigots say now?
I 100% concur with BKhan
So this prayer leader deliberately created false evidence against a young 14 year old mentally challenged girl and he has been arrested for taht reason. We will see how long he is kept in custody. Judges independence will become very evident if he gets bail in fewer days than poor Rimsha did.
But I have a more pertinent question to ask. If he inserted some semi burnt pages of Quran to the pile, that means he burnt those pages himself. Should he then not be charged for blasphemy and tried for that as well? After all unlike poor illiterate Rimsha, this prayer leader was fully aware about what he was burning.
So the blasphemy law stays? Looks like a face saving tactic by the administration.
just put him behind bars forever!! how can he do it to against a 14 years kid!
Sick mentality.. he did only to get some popularity with the people and the media.
Now is time to set an example for such lunatics (real satanic and kafir) and accordingly punish him as the law says and that is death penalty. Law is very clear on it and if any Mullah protest, they be accounted for with iron fist to set an example.
So many conspiracies. We don't know whom to trust. A judicial enquiry must be conducted & only after this should people be released. Jadoon could have added pages, but even then some pages have been burnt which itself blasphemy.
Time for suomotu
I dont believed that a 14 year old girl can make a plan to burn QURAN, its someone els who knows the sensibility of this matter and can make a sound case against anyone for that...
Jadoon will get a clean chit, no matter what. Not even any Qadris will try to him! That's our national hypocrisy!
These so called religious leaders have turned society upside down. He must be given exemplary punishment so that other dare not do the same.
If found guilty, this person must be handed out an exemplary punishment for inciting hatred, violence and for accusing an innocent child as these types of incidentsare tranishing the image of Islam and the Pakistani society in the entire world. Poor Rimsha Masih and her family deserve our utmost sympathy, compassion and an apology for failing to act as a nation. Good work by the authorities in arresting this prayer leader. It is time to stand up against and denounce such cruelty and injustice in the name of religion against our weaker, vulnerable fellow citizens.
He should be given examplery punishment.
What aa joke going on?
It is now clear the blasphemy law should be entirely repealed. It only lends itself to these kinds of abuses.
The lawyer community is now going to adopt this Imam and shower him with rose petals! After all, he was doing it to 'strengthen the case' in favour of Islam!
Thats good !...take him to jail...these guys think they are the ministers of Islam.
The case is becoming clearer...
People like this prayer leader need to be dealt with as harshly as possible under the law.
Not only did this man lie, fabricate evidence and in fact himself commit the very 'Blasphemy' (burning pages of the Quran deliberately) that he accused an innocent girl of doing, but he essentially tried to 'commit murder' by lying and falsely implicating an innocent girl who could ave received the death sentence!
...an answer to Rimsha's prayers...
Fake cases of blasphemy have increased since death penalty was included in the law. Mullas and other vested interests will continue to abuse this law. Judges and police are under constant threat if they side with the innocent. This law must be abolished or at least a high level committee at province level should decide to register the case.
Maybe there is hope for Pakistan after all? However -- a child with diminished capacity should have never been arrested regardless of what was burned -- and someone please explain why the child remains in jail.
Conspiracy indeed. Devious prayer leader. So much for being the hero.
That is why Blasphemy law will not work. The accusers will simply lie to get the other party killed under Blasphemy law.
If its true, lets see then how far the law of blasphemy goes.
I am pessimistic about further investigations and subsequent punishment. Nothing can be expected from the judicial system which has failed to punish a monster like Mumtaz Qadri rather showered rose petals on him. Pathetic!!
The blasphemy law NEEDS to be scrapped!
Get the garlands ready for welcome to nearest jail.
He should be tried for Blasphemy now.
twist in the tale !!! this govt can't release the minor girl coz they dont give her protection . what a pity!!
our focus should be on innocence of Ramesha, i believe from the 1st day that its a hatched case, a baseless & planted one, whether a specific act is blasphemy or not; its another aspect which is not relevant in Ramesha's case, her innocent is proved as police arrested the responsible....
Will this Mullah now be tried under 295-C or he would become another symbol of grandeur for Ummaah??????
Search for Shaitan no more!
If the case is established against this particular Mullah, Rimsha should be released immediately and the a case of blasphemy should be registered against the prayer leader, no matter if the sky falls on earth.
Now Khalid Jadoon should be tried for blasphemy