Lahore (8 September 2022): The human rights activists have expressed their grave concerns over the dismissal of the post-arrest bail application by Additional Session Judge, Lahore, filed by 57 years old, Anwar Masih, who has been behind bars for over two years now in a fabricated case of blasphemy. They have urged the courts to discourage the misuse of blasphemy laws, and to release the persons who face imprisonment on fabricated charges of blasphemy, and demanded the police authorities ensure a fair investigation of the cases without any discrimination.
Detail: A Christian girl Samreen, daughter of Anwar Masih, contracted a marriage with a Muslim man, Naqash Maqsood in 2017, and converted to Islam with her mother without informing her family members. Later, in 2022 when Anwar Masih came to know about it he was astounded, unhappy with the decision of his wife and daughter to change their religion, and held them responsible for causing division in his family on religious lines. Frustrated by the exchange of arguments on account of the marriage of her daughter contracted without taking Anwar Masih in confidence, Kousar Parveen approached the police to become a mediator to help reunite the family. Frustrated by the dispute on account of the marriage of her daughter contracted without taking Anwar Masih in confidence, Kousar Parveen approached the police to become a mediator to help reunite the family.
The police called Anwar Masih to the police station civil line, Lahore, and scolded him for harassing his wife and daughter, practicing Islam. Although he refuted the allegation, however, the police lodged an FIR (237/20) dated 2nd June 2020 on the complaint of a police officer Muhammad Nawaz, allegedly accusing Anwar Masih of making objectionable remarks against the Prophet Muhammad, which is a criminal offense punishable with death penalty under section 295-C of the Pakistan Penal Code.
After Anwar was arrested by the police on 2 June 2020, the influential groups offered Anwar’s children to adopt the majority religion otherwise, the accused and his offspring will be killed. The threats and fear of family loss compelled Anwar’s eldest son to opt for changing religion along with his wife and children.
On 9th April 2021, a charge sheet against Anwar Masih was framed in the court of Jahanzeb Chattha, Additional Session Judge Lahore, to which, Anwar Masih responded by stating “He does not plead guilty to the charge regarding commission of blasphemy levelled against him”.
On 11th December 2021, the daughter of the accused, Samreen Bibi got her statement recorded on oath before the District and Session Judge, Lahore, stating that “an FIR of blasphemy accusation on the basis of concocted facts was registered against Anwar Masih who did not commit any act of blasphemy, however, the Police conducted proceedings unfairly without our consent and will, and converted a family dispute into a blasphemy case in order to fulfil their nefarious designs against my family with mala fide intentions.”
The son-in-law of the accused, Nakash Maqsood got his statement recorded on oath before the District and Session Judge, Lahore, stating that “the FIR is based on the mala fide intention of the police to entangle Anwar Masih in this fabricated case of blasphemy, without our complaint, consent, and approval. He has never uttered any blasphemy comments neither in-person interaction or telephonically. The application submitted by my mother-in-law to the Police contains allegations regarding the domestic dispute, and does not contain any allegation pertaining to blasphemous remarks.”
Imran Masih, a son of the accused, stated that my siblings have been pressured to change their religion to prove that they are not against Islam and Muslims, and we have been facing threats of dire consequences, not limited to ablazing our house on fire, with living souls, so we are living in hiding. However, we are strong in our Christianity faith, and are committed to laying down our lives for being faithful to God.
Joseph Jansen, chairman of Voice for Justice, observed that the pressure on the session court is high and the judges do not have enough security to withstand the threats. Usually, the session courts issue the death sentence and pass the case on to the high court where the court is better equipped to withstand pressure. He proposed that Muslim clerics and Christian leaders must enter into dialogue to settle such personal matters in the initial stages before an FIR is lodged.
Abdul Hameed Rana Advocate stated that it is apparent that the blasphemy laws have been used to settle personal scores and attain ulterior motives as evident in this case. He observed that the complainant has failed to produce any evidence and witnesses before the court despite the FIR claims that audio recording as evidence against Anwar Masih is available to Police.
Farooq Basir Advocate said that nothing incriminating material has been recovered against Anwar Masih, therefore, he should be granted a post-arrest bail. He added that courts must ensure that an innocent person is not convicted wrongly in respect of offenses relating to religion.
Arif Sardar human rights activist stated that minorities figure so prominently in the cases shows how the laws are unfairly applied. Often the laws are used to settle personal scores and have little or nothing to do with religion.
