District and sessions judge Chaudhry Waseem Iqbal directed Shah – who represents Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) – to appear before the court on October 28. He also ordered Sindh’s inspector general police (IGP) and station house officer (SHO) Brigade police station to appear on that day.
The petition was filed by nine applicants, who claimed that Shah had committed blasphemy by saying that he regarded the word ‘Mohajir’ a derogatory term.
The petition said that Khursheed Shah had made this remark while addressing journalists at Jinnah Bagh on October 17.
The petition contented that the word ‘Mohajir’ has been repeatedly used in the Holy Quran and the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and his companions were themselves ‘Mohajir’ as the had migrated to Madina on the order of God and therefore Khursheed Shah has committed blasphemy.
The petitioners claimed that after hearing Shah’s comments, they approached Brigade police station and asked the police to file a case against him but the police refused. Later, they said, they also sent a request to the IG Sindh but he also did not take any action.
The petitioners have requested that an FIR be registered against Shah under Pakistan Penal Code Act 295-A, 295-B and 295-C.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 24th, 2014.
COMMENTS (25)
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Blasphemy law should apply to everyone,they should start from top and work downward,ans dont forget the poor people on Model town,give them justic and send the guilty to ones to where they belong,in jail and throw the keys away.
Blasphemy law is stupid. Should be repealed
@The Channa: That is what is being done now. Regularly. All over the country. That is why a mother of 5 is languishing in jail under death penalty. Because of false blasphemy charges. Great, that a politician is accused of blasphemy. And embroiled in this. He helped install this law !! Now he will be tried under it! How the tables have changed! Unless the judges are paid off handsomely.
Everyone seems to be missing the real point. This is clearly an extreme misuse of the blasphemy laws. If this is the case, anything, I mean anything can be used to prosecute you under those laws.
@Fact is Fact: U know all these are dirty politics game.. I am 100% sure.. those who submitted this application do not have to do any thing with blasphemy they are just using it to gain political benefits..!
Its a case in point that the so called liberals are at the forefront to misuse Blasphemy Law.
If a hard working Christian woman is facing death penalty then Khurshid Shah shah should face the charges too and be given death punished. It will be a total injustice if he is spared for being a Muslim and a politician while a poor Christian women is convicted on concacted charge. International agencies should be watching this high profile case.
@Sana: Why is everyone replying to your comment?
Sheer nonsense. Its a motivated move by a political/ethnic organization claiming to be secular. This is how religion is used in Pakistan for ulterior motives.
Unfortunately the law of blasphemy is being used for political means!
If the judiciary have any sense they will use this an an excellent excuse to move against the MISUSE of the blasphemy law.
@vaqas: where every one prefers to eat , drink and wear religion throughout, such laws can not be repealed. and to call it a draconian law individually is a brave step in Pakistan
More politicians need to be charged under the blasphemy law. They'll eventually revoke it when all their backsides are on the line.
Good move. Whatever be the result, every one will be careful in future before uttering nonsense.
Victims of lahore model towns killimgs are saying what anout us?
Very very good Decision . Why he say like this??? They think they are beyond the Law. His Mr tweeter Leader has no common sense . No more Bhutto is here .
Higher courts will protect him. He's powerful.
@Sana: Well after being a parlimentarian for decades, he should have worked harder to repeal the draconian blashemy law, in the first place.
It is such a shame that courts are taking actions against such paltry issues where a greater sin of killing other human beings in the name of religion is going uncheck and our honorable judges are shying away from addressing cases against such elements. Yet to see a sentence carried out against a terrorist killing people in the name of faith.
@sana ...
Funny ... Do you believe in fair justice or any justice ! think again.. the case will go on till dooms day and even then he will be honorably discharged..
Anyway I am against blasphemy charges which is literally used to victimize poor non-Muslims peoples ...
@Sana: Wrong! what could be a better start to eliminate these terminates eating pakistan
Now let us see how the the laws on blasphemy operate against the rich politicians. Against poor Hindus and Christians they operate with gay abandon BUT against the rich??? Let us see! Salams
are they out of their mind.. Pakistanis seriously need to grow up.
If convicted, he will be sentenced to death. What a sad ending !
Killing seasons are here again.....