Chief Justice Islamabad High Court Ordered to Stop the Proceeding in Rimsha case

Earlier, Pakistani authorities arrested a cleric after accusing him of falsifying evidence against the girl.

Dramatic move from prison for Rimsha Photo: vinienco.com

(ISLAMABAD, Pakistan) - Rimsha, a 14-year-old Christian girl in Islamabad Pakistan accused of blasphemy, may be spared the death penalty as her lawyer Abdul Majeed Rana has submitted a quiashment application in the Islamabad High Court today.

According to Abdul Majeed Rana, (Rimsha’s lawyer) Chief Justice Islamabad High court adjourned the case till 17th October and ordered the lower court to stop the proceeding until then.

Moving the girl's case to the juvenile court on last Monday 24 September, a special court judge in Islamabad, ordered to proceed the case according juvenile courts law referring to a medical report, said she was only 14 and not an adult when she was accused of burning an Islamic religious text. The girl, a resident of a slum in Islamabad, was arrested on August 16, after neighbors accused her of burning the text.

In the latest proceedings in the court action indicated that Rimsha may escape the death sentence as the country's juvenile laws do not permit capital punishment.

Prosecution lawyer Rao Abdur Raheem, said the judge ordered police to draw up a revised charge for a hearing on Oct. 1 but added it appeared Rimsha may not even be tried as police investigators have said they had no evidence she actually committed blasphemy.

Earlier, Pakistani authorities arrested a cleric after accusing him of falsifying evidence against the girl.

Today cleric lawyer also submitted a bail application for Qari Muhammad Khalid Chisti. But when Islamabad High Court Chief Justice has adjourned the case proceeding till 17th October, it seems there should be no proceeding in his case as well.

About Shamim Masih

"I am Christian rights activist and freelancer Pakistani journalist specializing in writing about Christians rights for the different papers in the world. My aim is to create a peaceful environment in the society and to help eliminate Christian persecution through my writing as I bring the plight of these brave people under the spotlight of the whole world."

Shamim Masih was born in Sheikhopura's village and raised in Gujranwala, a city in Pakistan's Punjab province. He earned his Bachelors Degree from the University of the Punjab, Lahore majoring in English, Economics and Statistics; he also received a Masters Degree in Business Administration.

As a freelance writer and author, Shamim has written for different papers in the world; his expertise is in writing articles highlighting different social issues. He has served as freelance chief reporter and column writer in “Minority Times” in Islamabad, and a number of Shamim's articles have been published in local papers as well.

You can write to Shamim at this address: shamimpakistan@gmail.com