Pak police arrest Christian man for blasphemy

Image
Press Trust of India Lahore
Last Updated : Nov 15 2014 | 4:25 PM IST
A Christian man has been arrested here for allegedly posting blasphemous comments in a blog he wrote in 2011, just days after a Pakistani couple, belonging to the same faith, was charred to death for alleged blasphemy.
The 40-year-old Qaisar Ayub, who holds a Masters degree in Computer Sciences, has been shifted to Chakwal district in Punjab province, where a case was registered against him in 2011 for posting blasphemous comments on a Christian website he was moderating. Ayub had gone into hiding after the police case was registered.
The arrest comes just days after the killing of a Christian couple for alleged blasphemy in Kot Radha Kishan area near here on November 4.
Meanwhile, Dawn reported that two brothers- Imran and Irfan- wanted for the killing of the couple have been arrested from their relative's home in Qadir Colony in Pirmahal in Punjab last night.
Police have already arrested nearly 50 villagers believed to be part of the mob that beat the couple to death and then burnt then by throwing in a brick kiln. The 25-year-old woman victim, Shama, was pregnant at the time of the incident.
The horrific killings sparked outrage and human rights watchdogs like Amnesty International demanded justice for the murdered couple and condemned the Pakistan government for failing to protect its minorities.
"Those responsible must be brought to justice and the Pakistani authorities have to ensure at-risk communities are pro-actively given the protection they need," Amnesty International has said in a statement.
Pakistan's controversial blasphemy laws were introduced by the former dictator Zia-ul-Haq in 1980s and has been a source of continuous victimisation for the country's minority communities, who are often lynched by mobs even before their guilt is proven in the courts.
*Subscribe to Business Standard digital and get complimentary access to The New York Times

Smart Quarterly

₹900

3 Months

₹300/Month

SAVE 25%

Smart Essential

₹2,700

1 Year

₹225/Month

SAVE 46%
*Complimentary New York Times access for the 2nd year will be given after 12 months

Super Saver

₹3,900

2 Years

₹162/Month

Subscribe

Renews automatically, cancel anytime

Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans

Exclusive premium stories online

  • Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors

Complimentary Access to The New York Times

  • News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic

Business Standard Epaper

  • Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share

Curated Newsletters

  • Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox

Market Analysis & Investment Insights

  • In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor

Archives

  • Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997

Ad-free Reading

  • Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements

Seamless Access Across All Devices

  • Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app

More From This Section

First Published: Nov 15 2014 | 4:25 PM IST

Next Story