Serious crime: Blasphemy charge framed against woman

Accused was sent to shelter after appearing at a court

LAHORE: An additional district and sessions judge on Friday framed charges against a woman accused of desecrating a copy of the Holy Quran.

The incident allegedly happened at the city’s Darul Aman after she was ejected from her matrimonial home by her husband—who had contracted a second marriage—and denied shelter by her brothers. The accused had later appeared at a magisterial court on March 19, 2015 from where magistrate Irfan Ali had sent her to the shelter. The woman had a copy of the Holy Quran in her possession when she was admitted to the Darul Aman. Social Welfare Department City District Government Darul Aman Superintendent Darul Aman Misbah Rasheed, the complainant, said in the FIR that the woman appeared to be perturbed when she was admitted to the shelter. Rasheed said the accused had desecrated the Holy Quran after taking it to the first floor of the Darul Aman. She said six other women Bilqees Bibi, Shafiq Bibi, Razia Sultana, Kiran Abbas, Asia Sardar and Kulsoom Bibi had witnessed the incident unfold. She said they had handed over torn pages of the holy book to watchman Amir Hussain.

The accused was beaten up by the women after she had allegedly desecrated the Holy Quran. The woman later underwent a medical examination that showed signs of violence.

Nawankot police had earlier presented a challan declaring her guilty at the court. After distributing case copies, the judge framed charged against her and summoned prosecution witnesses.

Former Supreme Court Bar Association president Asma Jehangir has filed an after-arrest bail application on her behalf. In the application, Jehangir said the FIR against her client was premised on a concocted incident. She said the complainant had not seen the incident unfold. Jehangir said the FIR had been lodged on the basis of hearsay.

She also said the woman had a history of medical illness which could be deduced after a cursory examination of the complaint. Jehangir said this had rendered her liable for bail in the interest of justice.

On Friday (yesterday) Advocate Ghulam Mustafa Chaudhry appeared before the court from the prosecution’s side but the counsel for the accused was not present.

The hearing of the case was adjourned for January 30 thereafter.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 23^rd, 2016.