‘Blasphemy’ murders: Relatives of slain Christian couple object to FIR

Masiha Millat Party stages protest demonstration against the killings.


Rana Yasif November 06, 2014

LAHORE:


A Kasur additional district and sessions judge on Thursday sought comments from Kot Radha Kishan police on a petition seeking the court’s directive to change the complainant of the FIR registered after the killing of a Christian couple accused of blasphemy.


Mukhtar Masih, father of Saima alias Shama, filed the petition objecting to Sub-Inspector Muhammad Ali being named as complainant.

He requested the court that the incident be investigated fairly and thoroughly.

Press conference

The Masiha Millat Party said on Thursday kiln owner Muhammad Yousuf Gujjar, Munshi Shakeel and Munshi Afzal had illegally detained Sajjad Masih and his wife Shama for three days before throwing them into a brick kiln.

Party’s founder Aslam Pervaiz Sahotra, Human Liberation Commission of Pakistan secretary general Naseeb Anjum, Father Samson Dilawar Pastor Benjamin and Fayyaz Shaukat were also present at the press conference.

Sahotra said Gujjar had paid Rs500,000 to hire the couple. He said Sajjad had told Ramazan, a driver of Gujjar, that he wanted to quit the job. He said Gujjar had detained Sajjad in a room after Ramazan told him that he wanted to leave. Gujjar also demanded that Sajjad return him the money, Sahotra said.

He said the kiln owner later instigated a mob against the couple accusing them of blasphemy. He said the authorities, including police, had tried to hush up the matter.

He said Provincial Assembly Member Anees Qureshi, Regional Police Officer Abu Bakar and District Police Officer Jawad Qamar had forcibly buried the deceased at midnight.

Sahotra said his party had pressed for burial to be held at 10am on Wednesday. He demanded that the government act against the kiln owner and his accomplices.

Protest

The Masiha Millat Party also staged a protest demonstration in front of Lahore Press Club. Some relatives of the slain couple also attended the demonstration and demanded that the government protect minority citizens.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 7th, 2014.

COMMENTS (2)

Pacifica | 9 years ago | Reply

Slavery? Is that what this was? Is it really so prevalent?

Ehsan | 9 years ago | Reply

Appeal A Christian slave couple was burned to ashes to strengthen the Bonded Labour, Debt Slavery & Pashghi System in name off religion. To throw bonded laborers in brick kiln ovens is not new .In 1967 to 1980 tens of men bonded slaves were thrown in to the brick kiln ovens in deferent parts of the Punjab by brick kiln owners on the issue of Pashgi (Slavery debts) or to make the women sex slaves. Bhatta Mazdoor Mahaz or the Brick Kiln Workers Front resisted against the brutal crime and gave tuff time to the slave masters. I appeal all the journalist friends that they should stand with the weakest and motivate all political parties to demonstrate against this inhuman act, otherwise it will happen everywhere. May this injustice will one day create the idea of two nation theory. Burning of the slaves is a conspiracy of slave masters. It must be stop before it will be too late. Main aim is that Be slave or ready to die ... Old but new way to strengthen the debt slavery (pashgi system) Bonded Labour System in Pakistan in name of religion & blasphemy. It means absolute no freedom from slavery. An old member of PFUJ/PUJ Ehsan Ullah Khan Sweden

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