Christian groups protest blasphemy sentence

Monday, March 01, 2010
By our correspondent

Karachi

The Save The Churches’ Property Welfare Association, the United Church of Christ, Qayoomabad, and heads of various Christian congregations staged a demonstration in front of the Karachi Press Club on Sunday. They were protesting against the sentence of 38 years imprisonment, along with fine, passed against a Lahore-based Christian young man, Qamar David, by the Additional Sessions Judge, Karachi South.

Addressing the rally, Chaudhry Patras said that no non-Muslim could ever even remotely think of violating the sanctity of Islam by utter blasphemous words against the Holy Prophet (PBUH). He said the award of such a severe sentence to Qamar David was a demonstration of extreme bigotry and narrow-mindedness.

Kamran Khan said that acquittal of the co-accused on grounds of benefit of doubt by itself gave rise to doubts about the impartiality of the trial.

Among the protestors were David’s wife Tabassum, Bishop James John Paul, Adeel Bhatti, Adil Bhatti, and Shahbaz Ashraf Butt of Fight for Rights.

Protestors were holding aloft banners and placards condemning the stiff sentence passed against David and others, reading, “Bigotry against religious minorities not acceptable”, and , “Section 295-C is a double-edged sword for the minorities”.

They appealed to national and international Human Rights bodies to come to David’s aid since his life was in danger in the jail.

They further appealed to the provincial government to ensure the safety of his family members.