Jamil Masih a resident of Basti Balochan aged about 45 years was convicted of Blasphemy charges u/s 295C ON 2ND April 2012. The Voice got the information from the sources and reached the Basti on 2nd April where the Muslim Mob was agitating against the Victim/ accused. Jamil Masih is having a family that is comprised of 6 children and a wife who is seriously ill and is going through the treatment of Hepatitis C. The Voice intervened the matter and told the SHO Mr. Rai Nasir Abbas that he cannot register an FIR without the investigation that should be conducted by the officer of Superintendent of Police SP. With the intervention of the Voice team the FIR is not lodged yet. The Voice team that was comprised on the following members, Advocate Aneeqa Maria, Mr. Khurram Akhtar, Mr. Shahid Anthony, Mr. Mehboob and Mr. Gohar went to the higher officials of the police and told them all the situation, but the officials said that if you can negotiate between the parties than we can also release the accused otherwise it is not possible for us to leave the victim, as you have already saw the trailer of agitation. Sheikhupura is a big district and we cannot control the mob of the clerics and the general public if once they come out on roads against the accused.
The situation was quite difficult as Basti Balochan is comprised of a few Christrian families and the Muslims are in Majority. Moreover the Applicant is also a neighbor of Jamil Masih. The facts of the case are that Jamil Masih is an Employee of Wapda and is quiet well settled, he on the evening of 2nd April drank alchohol and left his house, there he had a strong argument with his neighbour’s (Haji Tahir’s) servants and they both abused each other. But Haji Tahir Javed who is himself a chief cleric at Jamiat-e-Ulema of Pakistan raised the issue that Jamil had blasphemed in respect of Holy Prophet and abused all Muslim fraternity and hence gathered all the members OF Jamaiat-e-ulema and lead the procession against all the Christians and the police.
The entire Christians of the Basti and the covering area were scared and prayed that Lord God may help them and let not their fate be likethe Christians of Shanti nagar and Gojra. But thank God he helped the Voice and we were able to meet the leader named Haji Tahir and had some interfaith dialogues with him, after that he led the mob go. Now the victim is under the custody of the police, and we are hopeful that with the interfaith harmony and peace dialogues we will be able to release the pressure of the charge of Blasphemy and get the victim, jamil Masih released from the custody of the Police. The Voice team is having the meeting with the Ulema at 7:00 pm at the Masjid of Jamiat-e-ulema in Sheikhupura. Let us pray for the positive result.
Note: the higher officials have requested not to publish their names in the report, as they are helping us.(Please do not publish the note)
Update on the case:
The Voice team comprising of its Coordinator ( Aneeqa Maria Akhtar), field officers and research officer met the Ulema in the Mosque named Jamia-Islamia in Sheikhupura and had detailed inter-faith dialogues. After detailed discussions and arguments The Voice team was able to convince the Clerics that Jamil Masih is a father of six children and is a peace loving poor man. He cannot say anything against the Holy Prophet.
Finally after 3 days of discussion and convincing exercise we (The Voice team) was able to convince them to with draw the Blasphemy charges against the victim/accused and finally we were able to release Jamil Masih from the Police station janubi Chaoni Sheikhupura on 8th of April 2012. The Voice paid sum of Rs, 50,000 as a compensation to the Muslim party and police for this release. But we praise Lord and are thankful to all of the children of God, Our brothers and Sisters in Christ who have prayed for us and our work. Please keep us in your prayers.
Extreme Regards,
Aneeqa Maria Akhtar
Advocate High Court
Coordinator
By,
Aneeqa M.Anthony