Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Lahore (Agenzia Fides) - The Christian Qaiser Ayub, 40, was arrested for an alleged case of blasphemy by the police in Lahore. The complaint was registered pursuant to art 295-C of the Penal Code (insulting the Prophet), the same for which Asia Bibi was sentenced. Ayub is a professor of computer science and has taught in several schools in Lahore. As reported to Agenzia Fides by lawyer Sardar Mushtaq Gill, according to the police Ayub had been a fugitive for about 3 years, since the alleged blasphemy dates back to 2011. The charge against him is that of having written blasphemous comments on his blog.
Meanwhile, the police announced that two brothers, Imran and Irfan, Muslims, among the most wanted for the lynching of Shaazad Masih and Shama Bibi, which occurred in Kasur (see Fides 11/04/2014), were arrested in Pirmahal, Punjab. 50 suspects still remain in custody.
Meanwhile in Faisalabad human rights defenders, Muslims and Christians in a meeting urged the government of Pakistan to take a clear position on the misuse of the blasphemy laws. "The government must announce and clearly demonstrate its position to prevent extrajudicial killings and attacks against minorities, justified from the misuse of the blasphemy laws" they remarked during the meeting, organized by associations like "Awam" (Association of Women for Awareness and Motivation) and "Reat" (Rights of expression, assembly, association and thought). (PA) (Agenzia Fides 17/11/2014)
