18 Christians booked in blasphemy case before Christmas

18 Christians booked in blasphemy case before Christmas

By – Shamim Masih

ISLAMABAD: Christmas is unique festival for all the Christians around the world. People started its celebration with the start of the month of December. This year in the capital city of Pakistan, 18 Christians including two pastors and three women booked in blasphemy case.

According to the details, before Christmas 2014 celebration, Christians of the capital city are under persecution. On December 07, FIR was registered accusing 11 people committing blasphemy including three females of the same area. Naseem Bibi, who was Christian and converted to Islam in 1995, she married a Muslim man and had three children. She complained that Pastor Karamat Masih 45, Shafique Masih nick name Noora 32, Yousaf Masih 60, Parveen Bibi (widow), Bavi Bibi, Nasreen Bibi wife of Yousaf Masih, Shahid Masih 35, Parveez Masih, Tariq Matto, Nabeela Bibi, and Judge Masih reportedly went to her home and attacked her. She said in her application that there were 50 more people, they all came to her house and gave insulted remarks about Islam. She said that they also insulted Quran. Thus a First Investigation Report – FIR 888/14 was registered against these people under PP 295-B, 354, 452, 148, 149 in PS Margalla, Islamabad. Four of them, Yousaf, Shafique, Shahid and Tariq were sent to prison.

This is also to mention that Yousaf and Nasreen Bibi planned their daughter’s wedding before Christmas. The nominated Nasreen Bibi is reportedly suffering with severe disease and was admitted in the hospital. The said FIR was registered in response of the FIR No. 887/14 under PP 506, 341, 148 and 149 against the same lady, when she reportedly attacked on few of the these people. This is also to mention that the same lady had accused 7 Christians of the slums murdering her husband. Finally court discharged the case.

Earlier on November 20, a FIR was registered against few Christians of slum area including one Pastor. Another blasphemy case against 8 Christians of the capital was registered in the Capital on November 20. Christians of slum area are alleged to disgrace the holy verses of the Quran. The outskirt of the capital is under threat again.

According to the police, Naheed Ahamd complained in the Police Station that he found half burnt pages of the Quran near PTV-2 building in Sector H-9, Islamabad. He also mentioned that name of Ps. Arif, Peera, Ch. David, Victor, Shamshad etc were also found attached with these verses. Police registered First Investigation Report – FIR no. 596/14 under section 295-B, 6/7ATA against the offender and started investigations.

It is also to mention that residents of the said sector were displaced from Rawal Dam and sector G-12 Islamabad. Many displaced families of the famous Rimsha case (a minor Christian girl accused of burning the holy verses) were settled there since then. Federal Government and Capital Development Authority – CDA have promised to grant them a piece of land. But since then they are not been provided a place to live in. During the past months, Christian slum settlers are warned to clear the area under the umbrella of taking strict security measures.

Sharing Life Ministries Pakistan – SLMP team visited both victims of the blasphemy accused to provide them some counseling, advice and prayer.  Blasphemy law is frequently used for vested interest against Christians and other minorities in the country. There is strong vice around the world to bring reforms in this law to avoid the bloodletting of Christians and other people of the country. Earlier Christian couple was burnt in Kot Radh Kishan.