Pakistani Muslim Cleric Acquitted In Blasphemy Case

Remember Rimsha Masih, that 14-year-old Pakistani Christian girl with a learning disability who was accused of blasphemy by a local cleric, jailed for three weeks and threatened with death?  And it was later discovered that, according to witnesses, it was actually the cleric, Hafiz Mohammed Khalid Chishti, who had allegedly burned pages from the Quran himself and placed the blame on Masih?   That same cleric, who admittedly has tried to get Christians to move out of his area of town, has been set free. All charges dropped.

His lawyer, Wajid Ali Gilani said:

"The court has dismissed all charges against Khalid Chishti and has acquitted him in this case," Mr Gilani told AFP.

Mr Gilani said the prosecution had failed to prove the charges while all the witnesses had withdrawn their accusations.

Is that surprising? No.

Thankfully the young girl and her family were given safe-haven in Canada.

Pakistani Man Sentenced To Death For Blasphemy

They love their Blasphemy Laws in Pakistan, even though most of the accusations are simply a way of getting back at someone you have a grudge against.  You'd think they'd learn after they discovered that the cleric who accused  a young 14-year-old Christian girl, Rimsha Masih, of burning the pages of a Quran, was actually the one who framed her by planting evidence. But they've now fined and sentenced to 10 years in prison, plus death, 25-year-old Hazrat Ali Shah who was accused by fellow villagers  of  blaspheming Mohammed after an argument in early 2011.

According to prosecutors, Hazrat Ali Shah uttered something blasphemous against the Holy Prophet (pbuh) in March 2011 in his village of Barenis, which was testified by many villagers.

Police registered a case under Sections 295 –(a), (b) and (c) of the Pakistan Penal Code.

The convicted man allegedly stood on the roof of his house and spoke loudly and inappropriately against the Prophet (pbuh) about one and a half year ago, creating a tense situation in the village, after which police arrested him and lodged a case.

A Christian woman, Aasia Bibi (aka Aasia Noreen), is also on death row after she too was accused of blasphemy in 2010.  She's still waiting on appeals.

What a shameful, pathetic law.

Sources; Tribune, Dawn