Pope condemned Rimsha case but stayed mum on anti-Islam film: Khosa

Says Pakistanis living abroad should not only be used for strengthening economy, but be given the rights of citizens.

MULTAN: Governor Punjab Latif Khosa said on Saturday that Pope Benedict XVI condemned the blasphemy accusations leveled against Christian girl Rimsha Masih, but remained silent on the anti-Islam film, Express News reported.

Speaking to the media at Multan airport, Khosa said that when the Rimsha case surfaced, the entire world including the Pope “made a lot of noise” and questioned why they are tight-lipped over the anti-Islam film.

He said that Pakistanis living abroad should not only be used for strengthening their economy, but be given the rights of citizens.

The blasphemy charges leveled against the Christian girl Rimsha of allegedly burning Quranic pages in breach of Pakistan's blasphemy laws caused an uproar in the world, with humanitarian organisations demanding her release.

Rimsha was arrested in a poor suburb of Islamabad on August 16 after a neighbour accused her of burning papers containing verses from the Quran, in breach of Pakistan’s strict blasphemy laws.

On September 7, the court had granted bail to Rimsha against two surety bonds of Rs500,000 each. She was then transported by a helicopter to an undisclosed location after her release from jail.