Pakistani Police Investigation Declared Rimsha Innocent

Rimsha and her family, who fear for their lives after the blasphemy charges, were moved to a safe place since her release on bail.

Cleric Khalid Jadoon Courtesy: The Nation Pakistan

(ISLAMABAD, Pakistan) - On Saturday Police told the court that Christian girl, Rimsha who spent three weeks in jail was not guilty and a cleric who allegedly framed her should face trial instead.

Investigating officer Munir Jafri said police could not find any evidence against Rimsha who is 14-years old. She was accused of burning pages from Quran in a case which sparked an international hue and cry.

"We have also told the court that there are witnesses and evidence against Qari Muhammad Khalid Chishti for framing a false blasphemy case against Rimsha," Jafri added.

Civil Judge Ghulam Abbas Shah adjourned the case until Monday, September 24 to decide on whether Qari Muhammed Khalid Chishti, who was arrested for allegedly adding pages from the Quran to a bag of burnt paper, should face trial.

Rao Abdur Rahim, the counsel for Hammad Malik (complainant) who had accused her along with Chishti, said he was not satisfied with the police report.

Raja Ikram Minhas told me on the telephone, that once the investigation report from the police is submitted in the court declaring her innocent, he is hopeful that we will be free soon.

Rimsha and her family, who fear for their lives after the blasphemy charges, were moved to a safe place since her release on bail on September 8.

The case of Rimsha Masih, who was accused of setting fire to papers that contained verses from the Quran, incited particular condemnation because she is said to be underage, illiterate and suffering from learning difficulties.

An official medical board declared her as "uneducated" and aged 14, but with a mental age younger than her years. Others have said she is as young as 11 and suffers from Down's Syndrome.