ISLAMABAD: Rimsha Masih, a 14-year-old Christian girl accused of blasphemy, was released from Adiala Jail on bail and sent to an unknown location through a helicopter on Saturday.
Under strict security arrangements, Rimsha was transferred to the helicopter via a bullet-proof car on being released. The helicopter was present in a ground opposite the jail. Rimsha’s family has already been shifted to that location.
Earlier during the day, the bail for Rimsha Masih's release was submitted to the additional sessions court.
Express News correspondent Qamar ul Munawar reported that Rimsha’s family and lawyers went to Adiala Jail to submit the receipts and receive the girl.
On the orders of the Interior ministry, the additional IG, along with a heavy contingent of police, was also deployed for Rimsha’s secure release.
The next hearing of the case will take place on September 16, while the additional sessions court has ordered the IG Islamabad to appoint an honest senior SP for investigations.
Rimsha, a 14-year-old Christian girl, was arrested in a poor Islamabad suburb on August 16 and accused of burning papers containing verses from the Holy Quran, in breach of Pakistan’s blasphemy laws.
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@Zeeshan
What has liberals to do with such incident? Raising your voice about such incident has nothing to do with being liberal or whatever. And stop playing and crying like a victim, the mullah who accused Rimsha is defaming islam, not the west or the liberals! And what justice did she get? she now has to fear or flee away for her life! U crying baby doll!
@Sir King Kong Bunty: Ha Ha Ha. Yes we see your secularism everyday. Hindu,s getting forcefully converted, Shias getting shot by the dozens and Christians charged with blasphemy (falsely) because a neighbour bears a grudge against them.
Pakistan, obviously has a penchant for inane drama.
First you make extraordinary stupid laws only to persecute minority and then you send a helicopter to rescue a minor girl.
It's actually a feel good factor for us Indians and a lesson for Kashmiris that when a country is created on bigoted notion of religion, it will fail so miserably.
@ASMA AEJAZ: Agree. Ameen.
@Raw is War: The verdict isn't out yet. Hold your horses Mr. indian
In fact Rimsha is released either for life imprisonment (hidden from the world she had known) or to be exiled from her native country.
This in a way is also an alternate punishment for blasphemy, whether innocent or NOT.
sorry liberals your propaganda didn't work and she got the justice. now go and prepare for another drama to defame Islam and Pakistan you heretic liberals
t it that a helicopter has been provided for the safety of Rimshas family though she has done Blasphemy Act?. and yes, if some one belonging to minority community migrates, its not our problem. Aren`t indians/Chinese etc migrating to west? Converting to Islam is a welcome process no matter how. Who is safe in Pakistan any particular sect?: As long as they are not Blasphemous, every sect is safe. You may please bother about Muslim supression across the world like Kashmir, China, Palestine, Iran, Burma, Chechniya, and then teach us lessons. So, you may please go back into your cave or migrate.So relieved and happy at this decision. May this be the start of sanity and tolerance in our homeland. R.I.P Governor Taseer and Mr. Bhatti , this victory is yours.
Looks like the Govt is trying to save its face on international arena. But, taking them away to undisclosed place shows how the society is polarized on religious grounds..
Pakistan Zindabad! To all those indian trolls who were bad mouthing us, see our secularisma nd tolerance of minorties. We are light years ahead of you when it comes to treating religious minorties.
@True Muslim Paki: Out of country is the only way for her & family to survive. Since their family’s identity is known, they’ll be mob lynched, if they are seen outside. Are you describing a civil society or society in stone age? All minorities are either getting converted or killed or migrating to other country otherwise mob lynched? Who is safe in Pakistan any particular sect?
@Hairaan:
Ofcourse, has anyone beaten him up, attacked his family or kicked them out of their homes like Mullahs did to the Christians, Rimsha and Rimsha's family?
@Umer:
so Moulvi Jadoon is also innocent until proved guilty?
bail of 500000? for a child with mental age of 8? And this level of protection required to protect a child from citizens of a civilized country?
Now it becomes state's responsibility to see that no harm comes to this innocent girl. Let's hope and pray that there will not be an assassination attempt on her life. It's time to revisit the draconian hudood law imposed upon by General Zia.
Relieved on behalf of Rimsha. Unsure why bail was needed once it was clear that the evidence against her was tainted. But the fact that there was a need to whisk her away because otherwise a 14 year old kid with Down's syndrome would have been lynched by her neighbours puts paid to the theory of 'moderate silent majority'. The majority is neither silent nor moderate. IT is baying for the blood of weak and oppressed minorities. As one minority after another get eliminated the definition of minority will continue to broaden. Shias have already entered this list. It is a matter of time before Barelvi Sunnis also enter this list.
She and her family should be assisted to emigrate to lead a safe and honourable life elsewhere
@indian catholic Had it not been a helicopter, it would have been really really dangerous for the family to stay alive. Blasphemy is very sensitive & popular in Pakistan. Don't invent conspiracies.
What is this dramatic helicopter scene that i just saw? It's a shame that our State throw in the kitchen sink to ensure security for our minorities ONLY when international media has their eye on us. Its basically an ALL or NOTHING doctrine.
@AnisAqeel: spit on the judiciary, even then they feel like roses thrown on them.
@Landhi wala:
In civilised world there is a rule which you may or may not have heard of 'innocent until proven guilty'.
@Landhi wala:
Do people like you really know why and how this blasphemy law became a part of the constitution of Pakistan? Before you talk nonsense on a public forum keep in mind people around the world are watching you and reading your pathetic views. The judiciary in Pakistan along with other organizations is proven corrupt in many cases. The blasphemy law is a black mark on our history and the fruits of mullahcracy and dictatorship which date back to 80s. People like you have no knowledge of what is what and you start commenting on constitutions of a Nation. Shame on you for putting the argument forward that she needs to be tried. She is a minor and belongs to a minority. Following the Sunnah, we must ensure her safety and make sure she is released. The Holy Prophet s.a.w. and the Almighty will love and agree to this I am sure and hellfire is waiting for people like you who have no sympathy for humans. How can you even call yourself a Muslim? Shame on you. You are an embarrassment to us Muslims, especially Pakistan.
@Landhi wala: A 14 yr old is a child. Of course she is innocent. Are emailing from your cave?
@AnisAqeel: Who are you to say she's innocent?? let the court do its job wait till the final verdict.
What an irony, an innocent girl was accused of Blasphemy. The whole country knows that the accuser was a liar. But she has to be shifted in a helicopter to an UNKNOWN place. Hence, the matter is still as sensitive as before - after knowing the truth. TRAGIC, VERY TRAGIC INDEED.
@JoinHands!: Cannot really understand if your comment was serious or sarcasm when you ask "wheres the appreciation from Vatican for this security??"
Such a small issue of an illiterate 14 year old girl with mental disabilities who picked up some holy book from the trash and burnt it has become a major issue in Pakistan for weeks. CJ, top government official security agencies and religious leaders have to get involved, all trying to extricate Pakistan from the mess it itself has so enthusiastically jumped in.
Out of country is the only way for her & family to survive. Since their family's identity is known, they'll be mob lynched, if they are seen outside.
Now what about Mullah...
Well done Pakistan, justice is seen to be done.
I hope she is left alone to live in peace now.
@Indian Catholic:
The helicopter was probably sent by the President as he can not ensure her safety otherwise. He might be the face of the de jure government but the real rulers are masters of the very ideology that keeps laws like blasphemy alive in Pakistan.
As BB shaheed said, "we were in government but not in power".
Please save the poor soul.
When an innocent, under-age and poor girl with a disability has to be rescued because she did not commit any crimes in the first place in an armoured car and then whisked away in a helicopter to an un-known destination, then it means that we are effectively a nation of mindless madmen.
This act alone punctures any belief that anyone might have about us being a peace-loving and law abiding society and people.
This is a zoo and most of us are silent spectators.
Sad !
yes. get her to safety and preferably out of the country!
I wonder how many more Rimhsas have been and how many will be more in the future? We sincerely hope fewer than in the past.
One step at a time in the right direction is not a bad progress. ..p
Rimsha Masih is the straw that will break the camels back (blasphemy law)
Unless she leaves Pakistan, Rimsha will never be safe. The Age of Barbarians is still not over in Pakistan.
Molvi Jadoon should be picked up in a helicopter also and thrown in the Arabian Sea
poor Rimsha.for a safe life you should leave pakistan now.
@Hairaan:
Maulvi Jadoon must be part of the conspiracy then.
That mullah should be executed under the same law now.
@JoinHands!: What appreciation you are talking about from Vatican, fighting for the rights of an innocent uneducated child to be released!!! What about apologizing for this 'great deed' our mullah-ism created along with people like yourself.
What a joke of our judicial system and mockery of illegally amended constitution. An innocent uneducated child has been released on Rs.1000000.00 bail after hue and cry from all over the world. What was her fault and crime!!! Will our CJ and Judiciary take responsibility of this criminal act instead of going after a few high profile scums. Shame on our whole judiciary system.
Helicopter! I am not a conspiracy theorist but there seems to be more than meets the eye.
looks like repeat of Raymond Davis episode (once foreign masters intervened)
Hearing for what? Rishma should be taken out of country as soon as possible. She will never be safe in Pakistan.
its an eye wash she and her family will be eliminated soon.
Helicopter? you got to be kidding me. oh on the other hand; wheres the appreciation from Vatican for this security?? The media? Lol.
why bail is required from innocent people? OH. I guess it works other way in Pakistan. Crooks can walk out without bail. But innocents will be made to pay.
That's good news. Where is the Mullah?
Good Beginning .