PUCM Calls to Pakistani Christians Leadership to Stand Together

Rimsha’s lawyer, Tahir Naveed Chaudhry, has accused the prosecuting team of delaying tactics.

Locked house of Rimsha, 14, a Christian girl who has been arrested on blasphemy charge Courtesy: Idle Speculations

(ISLAMABAD, Pakistan) - Rimsha has been held in prison since the accusation was made against her a couple of weeks ago. Her family says she has Down’s syndrome.

Her case was due to be heard over the weekend but it was postponed by judge Muhammad Azam Khan after the lawyer Rao Abdul Raheem requested a lawyers strike imposed by Punjab Bar Council.

Rimsha’s lawyer, Tahir Naveed Chaudhry, has accused the prosecuting team of delaying tactics.

She was due to hear today (3rd September) if she would be granted bail, but her court hearing has once again been postponed, this time to 7 September.

In the latest twist to the tale, Rimsha’s principal accuser Khalid Chishti has been arrested by police on suspicion of planting the pages of Koranic verses in Rimsha’s bag, in which she was carrying burned papers.

All Pakistan Minority Alliance (APMA) is providing legal assistance to this Christian girl Rimsha. Few other organizations are monitoring this case closely like CLAAS and PUCM.

Pakistan United Christian Movement (PUCM) held a protest rally on Sunday and speaking to the rally Albert David Chairman PUCM demanded the urgent release of Rimsha. Once the real culprit is arrested so he demanded to release her soon, he added.

He has called upon Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari to revisit the blasphemy laws, which are frequently misused by Muslim extremists to falsely accuse Christians and other minorities, in order to settle personal scores.

Albert David, talking to the ROHI TV anchor Azhar Jatoi yesterday, requested to all Pakistani Christian leadership to unite for the rights of Christianity. (ROHI TV is local channel in Pakistan).

Whatever the priority we have, it makes no difference, but once we all are Christian so I request to all Christian leadership to join our hands together for Rimsha, he demanded.

He urged that instead of criticizing and blaming, it’s better to take a step jointly. In the past, we made mistakes and have suffered a lot now its time to realise the sensitivity of the matter and stand altogether against discrimination.

In this regard, he offered his services for all Christians’ leadership to sit together.

Blasphemy accusations are extremely serious in Pakistan and the lives of those accused are often at huge risk from radical Islamists, even if they are found to be innocent by the police or courts.

Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari has ordered an investigation into Rimsha’s arrest but that is not enough. He must order an urgent revisit the blasphemy laws so that there will be no more innocent victims like Rimsha.

If it is found to be true that Chishti planted evidence against her, then he must be held to account for his actions.