Saturday 22 March 2014

Why is Asia Bibi still in jail?Question to LEAD

LAHORE:Last week Advocate Sardar Mushtaq Gill,a Human Rights Defender,Chief of LEAD was questioned 'why is Asia Bibi in jail?' and 'why is LEAD silent in this case to play its role?' by some Churches,international organisations and key leaders.

Asia Bibi's case:

There was  registered a case FIR No.326/2009 on dated 19 June,2009 at Police Station Saddar Nankana Sahib against Asia Bibi wife of Ashiq Masih by the complaint of a Muslim Cleric Qari Muhammad Sallam, under section 295 C PPC and on 12 July,2009 Complete Police Report (Chalan) was submitted in the court of Mr.Naveed Iqbal Additional and Session Judge,Nankana Sahib.

The allegation which was leveled against Asia Bibi:

The brief facts of the case according to the FIR lodged by Qari Muhammad Saalam that on dated 14 June,2009,the complainant of this case,are that Asia Bibi wife of Ashiq Masih who is Christian lady and a Christian Preacher along with the other ladies of the village were plucking Falsa from the garden belonging to one Muslim landlord Mr.Muhammad Idrees son of Ali Ahmed.It was stated in FIR that Asia Bibi delivered the derogatory remarks towards Muhammad(Prophet of Islam) by stating that he ............She further stated that The prophet of Muslim  got married with Khadeja ....... and also stated that The Quran is not the book of Allah but it was a man made book,this is the allegation which was told by Muslim women Afia Bibi,Mafia Bibi and Yasmeen Bibi to the complainant and the other people of village.

The Conviction of Asia Bibi:

She was convicted under section 295 C PPC and sentenced to death subject to the confirmation of Honourable High Court and she was also ordered to pay PKR.100,000/- as a fine and in default she was further ordered to undergo S.I for a period of six months on dated 8 November,2010 by the trial Court of Mr.Muhammad Naveed Iqbal,the learned Additional and Session,Judge,Nankana Sahib.

The Assassination of two high profile personalities: 


Asia was visited in jail by the Punjab Governor Salman Taseer, who himself was shot dead in January 2011 by his own body guard for supporting the Christian  woman. Governor Taseer had remarked: “Frankly, it’s up to God to decide whether I’m a Muslim or not, and not some illiterate mullah to decide I’m a Muslim or not.”

On March 2, 2011, Shahbaz Bhatti, the only Christian minister in the Pakistan government was mowed down for opposing the blasphemy law.


The Appeal against conviction:

The Criminal appeal No.2509 of 2010 was filed on dated 11 November,2010 by the lawyer Mr.S.K Chaudhry,Advocate High Court,in Lahore High Court,Lahore in which the relief was claimed as that the appeal may please be accepted and impugned judgement and order of sentence may kindly be setaside and the appellant/Asia Bibi may please be acquitted of the charge .Last week on 17 March,2014,the appeal was second time fixed in the DB(Double Bench) of Mr.Justice Tariq Masood and Mr.Justice Abdul Samee Khan but the case was realist on routine based as the learned Justice was on leave ,now has been fixed again on 26 March,2014.

The decision  of  LEAD's legal penal to play its role in  the case of Asia Bibi:

Yesterday 22 March,2014 there was held a meeting of LEAD's legal penal in which it was decided that LEAD should play its role direct or indirect in the case of Asia Bibi if we wish to see her acquittal.LEAD is only legal aid Christian faith based organisation which was not funded by any international organisation.If any individual or any organisation wish to be our partner in this noble cause to defend the defend-less and persecuted Church in reality and with true vision and mission  in Pakistan,LEAD welcome them.  

A new way of persecuting Christians:

Over the months a new strategy by the extremists has come into light. They target particular persons, seek extortion money and intimidate Christians in the name of Islam. At times they even get easily "Fatwas/Religious decree" [True or false] which does not matter, because they use the overall psyche of the "Mob", who will not investigate into the allegations made against anybody and will resort to all possible acts of extremism against the accused on the street, even going as far to burn the house of the accused and along with the other Christians.The common Muslim claims  his right to kill who is accused under blasphemy law and who support the accused.


Prayer Request:

LEAD request you all to pray for its whole team for wisdom,resources and courage to deal and give legal assistance in these sensitive cases.

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