Joseph Colony: Sawan Masih’s jail trial to begin today

The decision taken to ensure security of the accused.

LAHORE:

The district jail superintendent on Tuesday was intimated, through a robkar (judicial order), to complete arrangements for Sawan Masih’s jail trial from May 29 (today).

Sawan Masih was accused of blasphemy by a resident of Joseph Colony. The incident had led to a riot in the area and 150 houses there were torched.

Charges are likely to be framed against Sawan Masih at the first day’s proceedings.

The Home Department gave its consent for a jail trial after Police Headquarters Superintendent Hassan Mushtaq Sukhera wrote to Additional District and Sessions Judge Chaudhry Ghulam Murtaza.

Sukhera had said that the considering the sensitivity of the case, special measures needed to be taken to keep Sawan Masih safe. Sawan Masih was previously being tried at Additional District and Sessions Judge Chaudhry Ghulam Murtaza’s court. He would be brought in amidst tight security. Sukhera’s request was forwarded to District and Session Judge Nazir Ahmed Gajana who wrote to the Home Department on the matter.

Shahid Imran, the complainant, had submitted that he had been talking to his neighbour Muhammad Shafique, when the accused, Sawan Masih, approached them and used derogatory language against the holy prophet (pbuh). Imran said he warned Masih to stop but he continued his diatribe.

He filed a complaint at the Badami Bagh police station.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 29^th, 2013.