Protesters hold up placards while demanding the release of Asia Bibi, a Pakistani Christian woman who has been sentenced to death for blasphemy, at a rally in Lahore November 21, 2010.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will not repeal its controversial blasphemy law but may amend it to prevent abuse because scrapping the legislation could fuel militancy, a government minister said

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The law, which carries the death penalty for insulting Islam or its Prophet Mohammad, has come under the spotlight this month after a court sentenced a Christian mother of four, Asia Bibi, to death in a case stemming from a village dispute.
Widespread media attention on the case has led to renewed appeals by human rights groups for the repeal of the law but Minister for Minorities Shahbaz Bhatti said that would not happen.

“(Repeal) is not being considered though we are considering changing it so that misuse of the law should be stopped,” Bhatti told Reuters.
The law enjoys widespread support in Pakistan, which is more than 95 per cent Muslim, and politicians are loathe to be seen as soft on the defense of the religion.

Blasphemy convictions are common although the death sentence has never been carried out. Most convictions are thrown out on appeal, but angry mobs have killed many people accused of blasphemy.
Bhatti said consultations with Islamic clerics and representatives of religious minorities on amending the law would soon be held.

He said repealing it was not being considered because that could provoke religious parties and militants who want to topple the pro-US civilian government.
“We have to analyse what the reaction of those having intolerant attitudes will be,” Bibi said. “At this point our aim is to stop its misuse.”
Critics say the law can be misused by people making false accusations against rivals.
Liberal and secular groups say the law discriminates against religious minorities who make up roughly 4 per cent of Pakistan’s 170 million population. Most members of minorities are Christian.
Bhatti said an initial inquiry into the case of the Christian mother suggested she had not committed blasphemy but was falsely accused after a quarrel.
Bibi, the first woman sentenced to death for blasphemy, has appealed to President Asif Ali Zardari to pardon her.
“It will take few more days. We are looking into different things, not just pardon. She could get relief from the courts,” Bhatti said.
Authorities were providing Bibi with security in jail and her family had also moved for safety reasons, he said.
New York-based Human Right Watch has said the blasphemy law and government’s failure to address religious persecution by extremist groups effectively enable atrocities against minorities. – Reuters

Stop the hanging of Asia Bibi, a Pakistani Christian for Blasphemy

Medical report says JPMC nurse was raped, DNA test results awaited

KARACHI: A medical report has said that Jinnah hospital’s trainee nurse was raped, said medico-legal officer (MLO) Dr Fehmida Mubin.

 
The 22-year-old third-year student was treated for head injuries a day ago after she was discovered bleeding, face down on the ground in a housing complex for doctors at the hospital. It appeared that she had either jumped or fallen from the first floor flat of MLO Dr Abdul Jabbar Memon. Dr Memon jumped from the first floor and fractured his leg. He was treated for his injuries as well.
Sindh Health Department’s chemical examination laboratory confirmed the rape after inspecting the samples collected from the victim. Chemical examiner Dr Fazal Ilahi Memon has signed the report (6713/14).
After the MLO’s report was prepared, the police added the relevant charges to the FIR against Dr Abdul Jabbar Memon but did not present him in court on Thursday. The case’s investigation officer requested an extension in his full-body remand till July 28 but the request was turned down by the court as Memon was not present. The officer explained that Memon had been directed by his doctor to refrain from walking. The court expressed its disapproval.
Saddar SI Rao Mubashir, deputy public prosecutor Babar Sohail and judicial magistrate south Abdul Qadir appeared before the court and said that an attempted-murder case has already been filed against Dr Memon but rape charges (Section 376) have also been added.
According to Dr Fehmida’s medical report, the nurse had six injuries and she was sexually abused. The reports were also presented in court.
The court allowed the IO to present Memon immediately, otherwise the remand would not be extended. But the officer failed to present him until the end of the day.
Jinnah hospital’s security officer Muhammad Akram Janjua had filed the case at Saddar police station. He said that on July 13, a second-year trainee nurse had jumped out of the window of Room 96 of the doctors’ mess at the hospital to save her life and suffered severe injuries.
It has been over 48 hours, but the nurse has yet to gain consciousness and hence her statement has not been recorded. A DNA test will also be conducted to find out if the nurse was gang-raped but the final report can only be complete after she records her statement.
The neurosurgeon, who operated on her, Professor Sattar Hashim, and other doctors on his team are trying to save her life. According to Dr Hashim, there is still some swelling on the nurse’s brain and her treatment became complicated due to blood clotting. She is being treated in the intensive care unit where she is constantly being monitored, he added.
On Thursday, Sindh Health Minister Dr Sagheer Ahmed, Secretary Health Syed Hashim Raza Zaidi, head of the department’s inquiry committee, Captain Abdul Majid, and police surgeon Dr Hamid Padhia visited the hospital.
According to an inquiry committee, the accused doctor’s statement has been recorded. He denied any involvement in the incident and blamed the nurse of conspiring against him. The committee will submit its report on Friday.
The victim’s sister told the media that her sister had complained to the administration that Memon used to bother her during work but no one took any action.
Nurses continue to protest at JPMC
The nurses, paramedical staff and students at Jinnah hospital continued their protest for the third day on Thursday. They completely boycotted the wards. The call for the strike was made by the Pakistan Nursing Federation and Provincial Nurses Association.
Patients had to face problems as the staff stayed clear of the Out-Patients Department as well. Nursing officials, Jehanzeb Khan and Sehar Naz, accused the hospital administration of shifting the accused to a private hospital even though he was not as severely injured as the victim, who is currently under treatment at JPMC.
They said that their protest will continue until the MLO is barred from practice and other doctors, who are living illegally in the doctors’ colony, are removed.

JPMC nurse rape: enraging crime

Attempt by Armed people to take control of Gordon College Chapel Foiled.

Five Muslim men and 5 Muslim women in Burqas (Veils) equipped with Kalashnikov rifles and Pistols attacked Chapel in vicinity of Gordon College after Good Friday Services on April 2, 2010, and desecrated Holy Bibles and vandalized Chapel. They fire shots on Church windows and damaged every thing which they found in Chapel.

The armed group of Muslim men and Burqa covered women entered in Chapel at 7:45 PM and took control of Chapel, after taking over Church they moved to residential compound and started yelling on Christian children and women and took them as hostages.

According to PCP sources this Chapel is a property of the Evacuee Trust Properties which was closed from past many years. The Robinson Community Development Ministry RCDM took this property through the Gordon College for the Ministry purposes.

The Evacuee Trust Properties are maintained and managed by Federal Ministry of Minorities and being in vicinity of previously missionary College named Gordon College and after nationalization of missionary school and colleges by government of Pakistan in 1971, named as Government Gordon College have sizable Christian residential facilities in neighborhood.

According to the sources a group armed with automatic weapons broke into the Church compound and broke the locks and entered the Church and the adjoining residence area in the Church compound. They put up new locks to the main entrance and the Church door. They also threw away the RCDM board which was at the gate.

They threw the Bibles on the floor and started throwing things around. They also entered the residential area and started yelling at the women and Children at home, they started looting the house at gun point, they harassed the women and children and took all the cash and jewelry.

One of the women at home called his brother Shaban Gill, who informed the police and Rescue Team. Imran Nasir another resident was also informed about the situation, his daughters 4 years old and 18 months were taken hostages along with his wife.

Shaban and Imran reached and saw that 3 gunmen are on the walls of the compound, they tried to climb in through the wall but armed gunman opened direct fire at Shaban who managed to save himself. In the mean time the police arrived at the scene.

The Chairman of RCDM Mr. Robinson Asghar arrived at the scene with his team. MNA (Member of National Assembly ) Malik Shakeel Awan`s office is located opposite to the chapel, the workers at the office tried to help the police.

The Police broke the gate and made a forced entry into the Church compound along with the women police and succeeded in arresting 5 men and 4 women and took control of the situation. The police also recovered automatic weapons along with bullets. A large number of the Christian community rushed to the scene, they supported the Punjab Police.

The Staion House Officer SHO Israr Ahmed Satti of the City Police Station, Raja Bazar arrived at the scene and took the arrested men and women to the police station. The SHO Police ordered 4 armed policemen to guard the Church Compound.

The police investigated and revealed that the arrested men are, Mushtaq Ahmed, Amjad Zaman Cheema

Dildar Hussain, Muhammad Anwer and Saqib Ali.

The Muslim women in Burqa in police custody were named as Nusrat Bibi, Shahnaz Bibi, Sadia bibi, Irum Bibi and Fatima Bibi

The arrested are in the lockup, the Christian community was trying to give an application against the arrested for attacking the Church, disrespecting the sanctity of the Church, looting, taking hostage, harassing the women and children and firing. Prof. Salamat Akhtar, Mehboob Alam, Ephlal Ministry, Life for All, PAkistan Christian Congress PCC, Faith Force Ministries, RCDM, CPM and others started protesting for the FIR ( First Information Report).

Brig (r) Simon Samson Sharaf also arrived at the police station and assisted Mr. Asghar in getting the FIR ( First Information Report) registered against the arrested. The copies of the FIR were given to the leaders. At around 3:30am it was noticed that the armed policemen which had been ordered to guard the Chapel, were not present on duty.

Arshed Masih burnt, wife raped for refusing to convert

In Rawalpindi, Pakistan Arshed Masih's only crime was that he refused to convert to Islam; for that his punishment was that he was burnt and his wife Martha was raped by Police officers.

The influential employer of Masih, Sheikh Mohammed Sultan who is a local businessman. Masih was employed as a driver and his wife was a domestic servant for Sheikh since 2005. Earlier this year Sheikh and some religious leaders got together and instructed him to embrace Islam, Masih refused to give up his faith and he was then threatened of consequences. Masih who then offered to resign was threatened with his life if he did so.

Doctors treating Masih have said that 80% of his body is burnt, both Masih and his wife were rushed to the Holy Family hospital. The couples three children ranging in age from 7 to 12 were forced to witness the barbaric attacks.

There are few chances of the 38 year surviving this ordeal said a hospital source.

Crimes against Christians are common in Pakistan and on the rise with little or no financial or legal support. The infamous blasphemy law too has been on the rise, earlier this month a woman in Gujranwala was falsely framed for commercial jealously by her neighboring shop keepers and more recently Kiran George was burnt by her muslim employer in Sheikhapura.

Punjab's Minister of Law Rana Sanaullah said in a statement “The matter will be investigated and the culprits will be arrested,"

Masih was attacked Friday, March 19, in Rawalpindi, some sources wanting to be anonymous for security reasons claim it was a Police station and at least three police officers and five Muslim religious leaders were present.

The officers are also suspected of having raped his wife, 33-year-old Martha Masih, in the police station. Police Superintendent Moin Shah. "The victimized family will get justice". With police involved in the attack and the bread winner in the hospital fighting death, what justice will Masih and his family receive?

Martha Masih was still being admitted at the Holy Family Hospital and being treated for her injuries, he only crime was standing for the faith and by her husband's side.

Sheikh reported a theft of 500,000 Pakistani Rupees (5,952$), according to a document. The Christian family members were not named as suspects in the FIR from police. He tried to use this case to blackmail Masih asking him to convert or be jailed.

Punjab Minister Sanaullah had earlier denied the attacks took place, falsely claiming Masih "had burned himself", however in no time he admitted to such a crime taking place.

Christian groups said they would organize protests Monday, March 22, to demand justice. The rallies are to be held in the Chandni Chowk area of Rawalpindi at 1400 hours local time and in the city of Lahore's Youhanabad area at 1600 hours.

KARACHI, Pakistan — Politicians and Church leaders are appealing for calm after a Muslim mob here attacked two churches and a Christian community.

PAKISTAN - Call for calm in wake of Karachi church attacks
February 23, 2010

About 150 armed Muslims raided a Christian colony in the Pahar Ganj area of Karachi on Feb. 21. They shot at houses, beat Christians, vandalized vehicles and destroyed shops.

Four motorcycles were burnt and two auto rickshaws and several shops destroyed during the two-hour attack.

St. Jude’s High School, run by the Catholic Church, remained closed the day following the attack and only opened today [Feb. 23].

St. Mary Church of Pakistan and the Interdenominational Calvary Church were also damaged. Local Christians retaliated by pelting the Muslims with stones until rangers brought the situation under control.

“Seeing [the mob] approach the church, I closed the main gate,” Ashraf Pervaiz, a local Christian told.

“But they jumped over the gate, entered the compound and opened fire on the church. I tried to stop them but they kept beating me with sticks and weapons.”

The attack is said to have begun as a scuffle between a Muslim fruit vendor and local Christians.

“A Christian boy picked up plums from a fruit vendor’s cart. The Muslim injured him with an iron weight and was stopped by some Christian men nearby. Later he returned with the mob,” Aashiq Pervaiz, president of the Calvary Church told.

The raid is the first of its kind this year.

Christian leaders have launched Christian-Muslim talks aimed at forming a joint committee and preventing similar attacks in future.

More than 200 Christians and Muslims packed Calvary Church on Feb. 22 to discuss their options.

“Our religion speaks of love and peace. We have not registered any case in the police station even though our places of worship came under fire. We forgive the attackers but demand both communities not to give a religious tint to their personal clashes,” Aashiq Pervaiz said in his address to the gathering.

Bishop Mushtaq Anjum of Vision of Kingdom Church in Pakistan told that “personal feuds” were the most common reason for clashes between Christians and Muslims.

“The government must provide extra security to all churches in this Muslim majority country. We demand the strictest punishment for those who attack places of worship,” he said.

Christian teenage girl Shazia Bashir Masih, working as housemaid was tortured, raped and murdered by Muslim lawyer Mohammad Naeem on January 21, 2010.

The culprit Mohammad Naeem who is member of Lahore High Court Bar Association and resident of posh Defense Housing Authority Lahore, molested, tortured and later killed Christian teenage Shazia Bashir in his home where she was working as maid since 2009.

The shameless episode of this inhumane drama happened when killer Mohammad Naeem Advocate accompanies with one Pakistan Army officer ranked as Brigadier and reached in hut of poor parents of Shazia Bashir and threatens not to raise voice and offers cash for rape and killing.

Naeem Khokhar said that government of Pakistan and government of Punjab have been failed to secure life, respect and property of Christian.

The announcement of compensation to family of Shazia by President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari and Chief Minister of Punjab Mian Shahbaz Sharif negates Christians demand “Justice not Money” raised after destruction of hundreds of homes in village BahmainWali, Korian and Gojra by attack of Muslim mob in July-August 2009, in Punjab. Apart from setting on fire Churches and desecration of Holy Bibles in said villages 7 Christian children, women and elders were burnt alive by Muslim extremists in Gojra Town. Like Shazia rape-murder case government of Pakistan and Punjab government assured Christians that justice shall be ensure.

The Federal Minority Minister Shahbaz Bhatti was dispatched to Gojra, Korian and village Bahminwala by President of Pakistan and Prime Minister of Pakistan with compensation checks and orders of registration of First Information Reports FIR against local administration.

The Punjab Minority Minister Michael Kamran was also ordered to rush to effected villages by Chief Minister of Punjab.

The 20 million Pakistani Christians watched on electronic media waiving FIR against Gojra DCO, DSP and other officials by Shahbaz Bhatti and Kamran Michael while standing beside seven dead bodies in presence of hundreds of mourners.

“Where is justice? The DCO Gojra is promoted by Punjab government and enquiry committees of administration have given clean chit to involved officers who closed eyes and gave free hand to thousands of Muslims to destroy homes and burn Christian alive” said Naeem Khokhar.

“There is no justice for Christians in Pakistan and we doubt that culprit Mohammad Naeem will be also saved like Gojra killers” added Naeem Khokhar.

Naeem Khokhar said “ Give us Justice not Money because justice can only end violence against Christians in Pakistan by establishment and fundamental Islamic elements”

It is also reported in Pakistani Press that Special Team appointed by Chief Minister Punjab to conduct postmortem of victim Shazia Bashir have found no evidence of rape and Naeem Khokhar have pointed finger on one Christian Ammant Masih who recruited Shazia for maid worker in home of culprit Mohammad Naeem.

Naeem Khokhar urged government of Pakistan and Punjab government to immediately arrest Mohammad Naeem advocate because PCC doubts that administration is providing time to culprits to seek bail before arrest from higher courts.

DAWN NEWS PAPER