The civil society has welcomed the court for granting bail to the
blasphemy accused Stephen Masih, who has been facing imprisonment in a fabricated case
despite being of an unsound mind. They demanded that all those who incite or engage in
violence in the name of religion based on allegations of blasphemy, as well as those who falsely
accuse others of blasphemy, be brought to justice and duly punished.
The chairman of the Voice of Justice, Joseph Jansen recalled that it is sad that Police raided
Stephen’s home in March 2019, and arrested Stephen for alleged blasphemy accusation
without investigation, and tortured his mother leaving her with a fracture in the leg and arm
that she has not been able to recover from, and is bedridden since then. It is horrible that a
mob, without inquiring about the authenticity of the allegation, set their house on fire, on the
provocation of persons with an intention to spread religion-driven hatred, that made family
members flee the area and relocate to a safer place. He observed that this case is a clear
example that blasphemy accusations stem from personal vendettas rather than genuine
instances of blasphemy and lead to mob violence against the accused and their families.
Francis Masih recalled that although Stephen remained in the prison for over three years for
allegedly committing blasphemy yet, in reality, the accusation was motivated by a dispute over
trespassing by a neighbor to Stephen’s home’s terrace to bring his pigeons back to the loft. It is
sad that the neighbor leveled fabricated blasphemy charges against Stephen on March 11, 2019
to punish him for using abusive language during an altercation over trespassing. He hoped that
bail will allow the family to provide proper care and treatment to Stephen, who is of unsound
mind since birth.
Ashiknaz Khokhar remarked that the Punjab Institute of Medical Health has stated in the court
that Stephen suffers from Bipolar Affective Disorder, and he is mentally unfit to stand trial,
therefore he is destined to get bail for being innocent. He noted that those accused of
blasphemy have to face years-long imprisonment with limited opportunity for bail in Pakistan,
which is a sad reality.
Farooq Bashir Advocate said that Stephen is mentally retarded by birth, but it is lamentable
that none of the neighbors have had the courage to make a statement before the court about
his mental condition due to threats associated with the blasphemy accusation, which is an
indication that an innocent person who has not committed any blasphemy is implicated in a
fabricated case, and fake evidence and witnesses are produced in the honorable courts to settle
personal scores misusing the laws relating to the desecration of religion.
Abdul Hameed Rana Advocate said that it is the victory of the truth and justice that Stephen
has been granted bail on merit by the honorable court, interpreting the section 466 Cr. P.C that
learned Deputy Prosecutor General agreed to. He noted that Stephen has been facing
imprisonment for over three years for an alleged offense he has never committed, however,
the case against him has loopholes and relies on forgery, and we will continue to fight in the
court to get them acquitted of, for being innocent.