ISLAMABAD:
The city police have registered a case against 150 persons who violently protested for the arrest of a Christian girl who was accused of burning pages of Noorani Qaida last week. Rifta, 11, was later arrested on charges of blasphemy on Thursday.
In an interview with the British Broadcasting Corporation, Islamabad Police Spokesperson Muhammad Naeem said the booked persons are accused of harming government and private property including breaking car windowpanes and blocking roads by burning tyres.
According to the police, the FIR lists only 25 persons by name, while the rest have been listed as “unknown persons”.
Last Thursday, thousands of people protested the proceedings against Christian girl, Rifta, and the violent mob blocked Kashmir Highway for three hours.
The police say a person named Amir was at the forefront of the whole protest and a case against him has also been registered.
Residents of the girl’s locality said that the cleric at a local mosque incited
people to protest, but no case has been registered against him.
A few locals said that even if Rifta did burn any pages, she could not have known what was written on them because she is illiterate and cannot read.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 23rd, 2012.
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