Sensibility Blasphemy case against ‘mentally-challenged’ man

Police arrested a man on the charge that he claims to be a prophet.

LODHRAN: Kehrorpakka police have arrested a man on the charge that he claims to be a prophet and registered an FIR against him under Section 295-C of the Pakistan Penal Code (insult to the prophet).

SHO Rana Khalid said the suspect, Sheikh Asif, 25, a resident of Diyanatpura, was first taken into protective custody where neighbours threatened to kill him. Later, the FIR was registered on a complaint filed by a prayer leader.  Asif’s family told the Tribune that he was mentally-challenged. His uncle Sheikh Abdul Kareem said they had consulted several doctors had advised the family asked the family to restrict his movement.

Another relative said his mental condition had deteriorated since meeting  a pir in Multan notorious in the region for practicising black magic. He said instead of accusing Asif of blasphemy he should be admitted to a mental hospital.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 9^th, 2012.