Blasphemy FIR recorded without complainant’s knowledge?
The man, who ostensibly accused his Christian neighbours of defiling the Holy Quran, may have been out of the city the day...
The man, who ostensibly accused his Christian neighbours of defiling the Holy Quran, may have been out of the city the day the FIR was registered.
According to a relative, speaking on condition of anonymity, Muhammad Ibrahim’s name was used in the police complaint without his knowledge or consent on the insistence of some local politicians.
The relative revealed that Ibrahim had not spotted the plastic sheet, inscribed with Quranic verses and placed above the toilet area, as was initially claimed by Factory Area police.
He also declared as false, details revealed to the press narrating how Ibrahim had stormed into the family’s residence, confirmed his suspicion and confronted the family on the issue.
The relative stated that the media and protestors were misinformed for reasons beyond his understanding. He also stated that Ibrahim was feeling trapped.
“He is concerned that any attempt to withdraw his name from the FIR or the complaint will make him vulnerable to the charged, blood-thirsty mob that scared his neighbours. He worries that he may be accused of siding with blaspheming Christians.
He is also worried that the accused family may be punished for an offence that never happened if he remained silent,” he stated.
Ibrahim remained silent and chose not to confirm or deny the claim that his consent was not sought before the FIR was registered. “I did not see a copy of the FIR,” was all he said before shying away.
Meanwhile, Yousaf Masih, his spouse Bashiran Bibi and son-in-law Zahid have been missing since they were first accused and charged with blasphemy on July 6.
The family packed in a hurry and left without stopping to lock their house fearing violence by over 100 angry protestors.
Other Christians from their community recalled how the protestors had barged into the family’s residence and claimed to have recovered the plastic sheet, taken off from a billboard and being used as a shelter for a wash room. Most neighbours however refused to discuss the issue stating that the subject was a very sensitive one.
A young man named William stated that most Christians were very fearful of even expressing their sympathies. He stated that a resident of the area was charged in the FIR simply because he had advised people against trespass on the house in the absence of the family.
“People think that the wisest thing to do at the moment is to ensure one’s own safety by ignoring the accused and the issue,” he stated.
Haji Abdul Ghafoor, the investigation officer, confirmed that the police had arrested another man named Jamis Masih, even though he was not nominated in the police complaint. He expressed ignorance about the claim that the FIR was registered in the absence of the complainant. He stated that police officials had carried out several raids but had failed to track down the accused.
The officer also revealed that some Christians from Model Colony had assured police officials that the family would be located and handed over by Monday (today).
Legal experts said that in entering the house of the accused without permission or lawful authority the protestors committed an offence (under Section 441 of the Pakistan Penal Code).
Published in The Express Tribune, July 12th, 2010.
According to a relative, speaking on condition of anonymity, Muhammad Ibrahim’s name was used in the police complaint without his knowledge or consent on the insistence of some local politicians.
The relative revealed that Ibrahim had not spotted the plastic sheet, inscribed with Quranic verses and placed above the toilet area, as was initially claimed by Factory Area police.
He also declared as false, details revealed to the press narrating how Ibrahim had stormed into the family’s residence, confirmed his suspicion and confronted the family on the issue.
The relative stated that the media and protestors were misinformed for reasons beyond his understanding. He also stated that Ibrahim was feeling trapped.
“He is concerned that any attempt to withdraw his name from the FIR or the complaint will make him vulnerable to the charged, blood-thirsty mob that scared his neighbours. He worries that he may be accused of siding with blaspheming Christians.
He is also worried that the accused family may be punished for an offence that never happened if he remained silent,” he stated.
Ibrahim remained silent and chose not to confirm or deny the claim that his consent was not sought before the FIR was registered. “I did not see a copy of the FIR,” was all he said before shying away.
Meanwhile, Yousaf Masih, his spouse Bashiran Bibi and son-in-law Zahid have been missing since they were first accused and charged with blasphemy on July 6.
The family packed in a hurry and left without stopping to lock their house fearing violence by over 100 angry protestors.
Other Christians from their community recalled how the protestors had barged into the family’s residence and claimed to have recovered the plastic sheet, taken off from a billboard and being used as a shelter for a wash room. Most neighbours however refused to discuss the issue stating that the subject was a very sensitive one.
A young man named William stated that most Christians were very fearful of even expressing their sympathies. He stated that a resident of the area was charged in the FIR simply because he had advised people against trespass on the house in the absence of the family.
“People think that the wisest thing to do at the moment is to ensure one’s own safety by ignoring the accused and the issue,” he stated.
Haji Abdul Ghafoor, the investigation officer, confirmed that the police had arrested another man named Jamis Masih, even though he was not nominated in the police complaint. He expressed ignorance about the claim that the FIR was registered in the absence of the complainant. He stated that police officials had carried out several raids but had failed to track down the accused.
The officer also revealed that some Christians from Model Colony had assured police officials that the family would be located and handed over by Monday (today).
Legal experts said that in entering the house of the accused without permission or lawful authority the protestors committed an offence (under Section 441 of the Pakistan Penal Code).
Published in The Express Tribune, July 12th, 2010.