Offended sensibilities: Blasphemy accused granted pre-arrest bail

LAHORE:

An additional district and sessions judge on Monday granted pre-arrest bail to a man accused of blasphemy. The judge also sought police records of the case and directed Adnan Masih, the accused, to cooperate with the police in their investigations. Masih was also told to appear before the court at hearing. Masih was accused of blasphemy by Abid Mehmood, who registered a complaint with the Township police. Mehmood said he worked at a shop owned by one Mushtaq Masih where Irfan Masih was also an employee. He said on October 7, Irfan’s brother, Adnan, visited the shop. He said he saw that Adnan reading an Islamic book.  He said he noticed that Adnan had written derogatory remarks against the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) in the book.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 5^th, 2013.