ISLAMABAD: The arrest of a payer leader for tampering with evidence against a Christian girl accused of blasphemy will help stop the abuse of Pakistan's blasphemy law, Paul Bhatti, the Minister for National Harmony said.
The young Christian, Rimsha Masih, has been in custody for nearly three weeks after she was accused of burning pages containing verses from the Holy Quran in a case that has prompted worldwide concern.
The affair took an unexpected twist on Saturday when the imam who first gave police evidence against her was accused by his deputy of adding pages from the Holy Quran to the burnt papers taken from Rimsha.
Activists say the legislation is often abused to settle personal vendettas, and even unproven allegations can prompt a violent public response - in July a mob stormed a police station in central Pakistan to seize and lynch a mentally unstable man accused of burning the Holy Quran.
But it is rare to see anyone investigated for making a false allegation or interfering with evidence of blasphemy.
"It is a good omen. The deputy imam has revealed the truth and it will be helpful to deal with the future blasphemy cases," Bhatti told AFP in an interview on Monday.
"The disclosure about the tempering with the evidence will discourage future accusers to misuse this law."
Bhatti is Pakistan's only Christian cabinet minister. His brother and predecessor Shahbaz was gunned down last year for speaking out against the blasphemy law.
Rimsha, who is "uneducated" and has a mental age of less than 14 according to a medical report, will remain in a high-security prison until Friday at the earliest - by which time she will have spent 22 days in custody.
Judge Muhammad Azam Khan, who has repeatedly delayed bail proceedings for Rimsha, again adjourned the matter on Monday after the lawyer for her accuser asked for a stay to show solidarity with a provincial lawyers' strike.
COMMENTS (18)
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Reply to Khan of Cape Town
Sir, are you trying to threaten Dr. Bhatti? He lost his brother. Pls. Think before you comment it can give a Wong signal. Christians and Muslims have live in harmony since the creation of Pakitan. Christians from armed forces have given great sacrifices we have war heroes like Cecil Choudry and many who gave life for the country.
Pakistan you need to realize that you cannot have a law (anti-blasphemy) that is protecting the religious rights of one group (Muslims) over any another. This approach is discriminatory. Either you need to have a 'general' anti-blasphemy law that protects all religious groups/ practices OR get rid of the current law in its entirety. Look to the West as examples of freedom of speech and freedom of association. Pakistan has much to learn....!
This current debacle & intrigue is not the first time that false witness/accusations have been made, against a non-Muslim group, and it will not be the last. The world is appalled that Pakistan is 'happy to do nothing' and to let this appalling and archaic situation continue. Shame.
@Arun: the same scholars are asking for the release of the girl. Its not confirmed nor is it anyway near authentic for the person to accuse the girl of blasphemy. The sick fanatic who accused the girl of blasphemy doesnt have the authority for it.
@Jadugar: I dont need to explain what brand, its for your low level of knowledge that there weren't any brands. Its plainly a Muslim or else Christian, Atheist, Buddhist etc. There is no religious freedom, if you are a Muslim which you dont seem (mostly because you seem an indian), but if you consider yourself a Muslim, than sadly you dont even fit into the category as there is no religious freedom, while there is freedom to leave Islam and than feel free. Want freedom, atheism is what you need.
If the law is abused, Its the prosecution which is at fault, not the law... The law should remain intact... Nobody has the right to blaspheme others sacred belongings... Not even we muslims should have the right to mock others religion... ISLAM gives full religious protection to dhimmis
@Scholar: If a so called peaceful islamic rule can sentence a girl for life with down syndrome for burning pages from a book that can be printed a million times, then we rationals don't see the validity behind that rule. There is only one life, and its not the mullahs who have lead pakistan to what it is today its people who have some sense. If it were run by mullahs, pakistan would have been living in the medieval ages. And of course you are offended by my comment, now thats not a surprise, what are you NOT offended by?
Too Optimistic headline !!!!
Till the rule of Blasphemy there with stringent punishment and mostly targeted towards non muslim, the mullahs and fanatics and the brainwashed will misuse it.
@ Scholar
I wonder what brand of Islam you follow ? Your religious freedom ends where my nose begins!
@Scholar: You are true. We dont have any experience in Jungle Laws
Dear Mr Paul Bhatti, be safe and be alert.
@Fed Up Indian: You're nobody to comment on this btw, having no experience or idea of the dynamics
@Jadugar: Please get your facts right. If you need evidence its pretty much available on the internet as well as in the Quran. Religion is in no way a personal matter, its a fabric which wraps every aspect of life in piety. You give every dog a tongue, all you'd hear throughout day would be barking dogs and understand nothing - This is what democracy is, as for us Muslims, we are told to keep shut unless we have the religious authority over any matter of concern or elsewise any other authority which any individual may have to speak up. This is the best way to avoid useless arguments and hence lets PEACE prevail. If not was it in the hands of illiterate mullahs, This country would have had been in much peace than it actually is now
Blasphemy or disrespect also happens in the UK against the queen of England and so the people get charged for disrespecting the Queen. Likewise Muhammad (s.a.w) is the most respected personality for all Muslims the world over. There should be a definitive legislation as what and when a person is to be held on for blasphemy, its also to have witnesses and other supporting evidence for anyone to be held guilty
Instead of "stopping the abuse of the blasphemy law', won't it be much, much better to "stop" the blasphemy law and shut it down completely?
Not only should the abuse of the law be stopped , The should be scrapped, This law was created by a fanatic General who in his wisdom thought that he was the saviour and defender of the religion Islam. Fabrication became means to abuse the Law and are still being abused. Religion is not a personal property of anyone, group or country. Religion is very personal matter
Bhatti should hope, he does not confront the same consequences which the other Bhatti met.
When any body blames the other on the name of Islam, We become savage and voilent without knowing the facts and burn the houses, kill the innocents, We are not muslims, or muslims empty inside
So does the rest of the world ! They are all watching this scenario and are not very impressed by it either ! Let Pakistan approach the major Donar Nations, next time and see what happens to that Begging Bowl, as it may return quite empty ! The real question is, why has the courts not released the girl as of yet ? This will also reflect badly on Judiciary !