Dear friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that four Christians and one Muslim publisher, including one pastor, were arrested on the charges of using word ‘Sainthood’ on the occasion of death anniversary of a father under the Anti Terrorism act . The Special Judge of Anti terrorism Court, Gujranwala, Punjab, refused to hear the argument of the defense lawyer as she is very distressed with act of Christians and also rejected the application for the provision of security in the prison. The accused persons are kept isolated inside the jail and it is apprehended that they may face violence or be killed extra judicially, as is the norm with persons accused of blasphemy. The Muslim Mosque leader used loudspeakers to instigate the Muslim community to attack the residential area of the Christians which remained under the protection of police and Rangers for two days to avoid any untoward incident.
The case of anti terrorism was filed in a police station in another city, Gujranwala, which is 35 kilometers away from the place of incident and whose officer in charge is famous for extra judicial killings and has previously been suspended on charges of conducting fake encounter.
Mr. Munir Shakir the defense lawyer for the accused Christians is also under life threats from fellow lawyers belonging to the fundamentalist religious groups.
CASE NARRATIVE:
The four Christians and one Muslim publisher namely Pastor Aftab Gill, Unatan Gill, Siraj Masih, Latif, Shafqat Gill and the Muhammad Zulifqar Bhutto owner of publishing house
were arrested in the months of August and September, on different dates, under the first information report (FIR) on the charges of awarding “Sainthood’ title to one deceased father of The Biblical Church of Gujrat, Punjab province.
The ceremony was announced to be held on August 16 in Biblical Church in Gujrat, the pamphlets were also posted across the city. In the civil line area, a shop vendor read the pamphlet and asked a friend about the title of “Sainthood” which was translated in the Urdu language as “Rasool”, Rasool means a messenger or prophet. The vendor misconstrued the translation as negating finality of prophet hood ( finality of prophet hood forms an integral part of the Muslim faith) he took the pamphlet to a local mosque, where he met a cleric and discussed the matter. The Mosque leader of Jama-e-Masjid Mughal, (Mr.) Maulwi Khawja Safder immediately took the issue to punish the Christians. He propagated that Christian have committed blasphemy and declaring a dead Father as the messenger of God. He used loudspeakers in contravention to the ban on the use of loudspeaker under Punjab Sound Systems Regulation Ordinance 2015 which forbids the use of loudspeaker for any purpose other than the call for prayer and sermons on Friday. A charged crowd started gathering outside the Christian locality in Memda, civil line to attack the community.
The police and Rangers were called by the local administration to control the mob. The mob remained stationed there for two days. The organizers were arrested and the mob was controlled with the help of the local representatives.
The police of Gujranwala, 35 kilometers far from the place of incident, filed a case against all the accused persons namely; Pastor Qazi Aftab Gill, Unatan Gill, Siraj Masih, Latif, Shafqat Gill and one Muslim Muhammad Zulifqar Bhutto, the owner of publishing house, where the pamphlets were printed. It was a problem for the police to file case of blasphemy under Section 295 of PPC because then a high police officer with the grade of Superintendent of Police (SP) has to investigate. Therefore the police booked them under anti terrorism act. The case has been sent to Anti Terrorism Court where Special Judge, Ms. Bushra Zaman acted prejudicially against the accused. Before sending accused persons to jail custody she said she was disheartened with the behavior of Christian, she even refused to listen to the arguments of the defense lawyer. The next hearing date was fixed at October 16, 2015.Ms Zaman refused to provide extra security or even let the family meet the accused amid threats.
The local administration has also not allowed the local Christian community to hold service on the day of first anniversary of the late Father.
There were also reports of an attempt to burn down the homes of the local Christians, the police and the rangers intervened and evaded any unfortunate incident.
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please write to the following authorities listed below and demand that the blasphemy charges against the alleged accused be dropped immediately and that they be provided maximum security to protect their lives. Please urge the authorities to provide security to local Christians of Memda civil line area against the charged mob who may try to harm them.
The AHRC writes a separate letter to the UN Special Rapporteur on the Question of Torture calling for his intervention into this matter.
To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear ………………..,
PAKISTAN: Christians were held under anti terrorism law for using the word ‘Sainthood’
Name of victim:
1. Pastor Qazi Aftab Gill, the Pastor, resident of Memda, Gujrat, Punjab
2. Unatan Gill, resident of Memda, Gujrat, Punjab
3. Siraj Masih, resident of Memda, Gujrat, Punjab
4. Latif Masih, resident of Memda, Gujrat, Punjab
5. Shafqat Gill, resident of Memda, Gujrat, Punjab
6. Muhammad Zulifqar Bhutto, Pulisher and printer of Mehmood Press, Gujrat, Punjab
7. Mr. Munir Shakir Advocate, resident of Gujranwala
Names of alleged perpetrators:
1. Maulvi Khawja Safdar, mosque leader of Mughal Mosque in the Mugal colony, Gujrat
2. Rukhsar Butt, Umer Butt, resident of Gujrat Punjab
3. Iftikhar Butt, resident of Gujrat Punjab
4. Faisal Munir, resident of Gujrat Punjab
5. Mukhtar Ahmed, Station House Officer of civil lines police station, Gujramwala
6. Ms. Bushra Zaman, Special Judge, Anti Terrorist Court, Gujranwala, Punjab
Date of incident: August 16, 2015
Place of incident: Memda, Gujrat, Punjab
I am writing to voice my deep concern regarding the arrest of four Christians and one Muslim publisher, including one pastor, on the charges of using word ‘Sainthood’ on the occasion of death anniversary of a father under the Anti Terrorism Act .
The Special Judge of Anti terrorism Court, Gujranwala, Punjab, refused to hear the argument of the defense lawyer as she is very distressed with act of Christians and also rejected the application for the provision of security in the prison. The accused persons are kept isolated inside the jail and it is apprehended that they may face violence or be killed extra judicially, as is the norm with persons accused of blasphemy. The Muslim Mosque leader used loudspeakers to instigate the Muslim community to attack the residential area of the Christians which remained under the protection of police and Rangers for two days to avoid any untoward incident.
I am appalled to know that the case of anti terrorism was filed in a police station in another city, Gujranwala, which is 35 kilometers away from the place of incident and whose officer in charge is famous for extra judicial killings and has previously been suspended on charges of conducting fake encounter.
It is distressing for me to know that Mr. Munir Shakir the defense lawyer for the accused Christians is also under life threats from fellow lawyers belonging to the fundamentalist religious groups.
According to the details that I have received four Christians and one Muslim publisher namely Pastor Aftab Gill, Unatan Gill, Siraj Masih, Latif, Shafqat Gill and the Muhammad Zulifqar Bhutto owner of publishing house were arrested in the months of August and September, on different dates, under the first information report (FIR) on the charges of awarding “Sainthood’ title to one deceased father of The Biblical Church of Gujrat, Punjab province.
The ceremony was announced to be held on August 16 in Biblical Church in Gujrat, the pamphlets were also posted across the city. In the civil line area, a shop vendor read the pamphlet and asked a friend about the title of “Sainthood” which was translated in the Urdu language as “Rasool”, Rasool means a messenger or prophet. The vendor misconstrued the translation as negating finality of prophet hood (finality of prophet hood forms an integral part of the Muslim faith) he took the pamphlet to a local mosque, where he met a cleric and discussed the matter. The Mosque leader of Jama-e-Masjid Mughal, (Mr.) Maulwi Khawja Safder immediately took the issue to punish the Christians. He propagated that Christian have committed blasphemy and declaring a dead Father as the messenger of God. He used loudspeakers in contravention to the ban on the use of loudspeaker under Punjab Sound Systems Regulation Ordinance 2015 which forbids the use of loudspeaker for any purpose other than the call for prayer and sermons on Friday. A charged crowd started gathering outside the Christian locality in Memda, civil line to attack the community.
The police and Rangers were called by the local administration to control the mob. The mob remained stationed there for two days. The organizers were arrested and the mob was controlled with the help of the local representatives.
The police of Gujranwala, 35 kilometers far from the place of incident, filed a case against all the accused persons namely; Pastor Qazi Aftab Gill, Unatan Gill, Siraj Masih, Latif, Shafqat Gill and one Muslim Muhammad Zulifqar Bhutto, the owner of publishing house, where the pamphlets were printed. It was a problem for the police to file case of blasphemy under Section 295 of PPC because then a high police officer with the grade of Superintendent of Police (SP) has to investigate. Therefore the police booked them under anti terrorism act. The case has been sent to Anti Terrorism Court where Special Judge, Ms. Bushra Zaman acted prejudicially against the accused. Before sending accused persons to jail custody she said she was disheartened with the behavior of Christian, she even refused to listen to the arguments of the defense lawyer. The next hearing date was fixed at October 16, 2015.Ms Zaman refused to provide extra security or even let the family meet the accused amid threats.
The local administration has also not allowed the local Christian community to hold service on the day of first anniversary of the late Father.
There were also reports of an attempt to burn down the homes of the local Christians, the police and the rangers intervened and evaded any unfortunate incident.
I therefore urge upon you to drop all charges of Blasphemy against the alleged accused immediately and that that they be provided maximum security to protect their lives. I also urge you to provide security to local Christians of Memda civil line area against the charged mob who may try to harm them. The mosque leader, Khawja Safder must be arrested for wrongly implicating the persons from religious minority groups to spread hatred and lynching. The police officers of the districts must be prosecuted for working under the pressure of communal forces.
Yours sincerely,
……………….
PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:
1. 1.Mr. Mian Nawaz Sharif
Prime Minister
Prime Minister House
Islamabad
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 51 922 1596
Tel: +92 51 920 6111
E-mail: secretary@cabinet.gov.pk or pspm@pmsectt.gov.pk
2. Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan
Federal Minister for Interior
R Block, Pak Secretariat
Islamabad (Pakistan)
Tele : 0092-51-9212026
Fax: 0092-51-9202624
Email Address: interior.complaintcell@gmail.com
ministry.interior@gmail.com
3. Federal Minister of Law and Human Rights
Ministry of Law, Justice and Human Rights
Old US Aid building
Ata Turk Avenue
G-5, Islamabad
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 51 9204108
Email: contact@molaw.gov.pk
4. Mr. Rafiq Rajwana
Governor of Punjab
Governor House
Mall Road
Lahore, Punjab
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 42 99203044
Email: governor.sectt@punjab.gov.pk
5. Mr. Chief Justice of Punjab Province
Lahore High Court
Shahra-e-Quaid-e-Azam, Lahore
PAKISTAN
Tel: +92 42 99212951-66
Fax: +92 42 99212279
Email: webmasterlhc@lhc.gov.pk
6. Mr. Shahbaz Sharif
Chief Minister
Government of Punjab
Province’ Chief Minister
Secretariat’ 5-Club Road
GOR-I, Lahore, Punjab
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 42 99205065
Email: cmcomplaintcell@cmpunjab.gov.pk
7. Mr. Justice Tahir Shahbaz
Registrar of the Supreme Court of Pakistan
Constitution Avenue, Islamabad
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 51 9213452
Email: mail@supremecourt.gov.pk
8. Mr. Rana Sana Ullah Khan
Minister of Law
Government of Punjab
Punjab Secretariat
Ravi Road
Lahore, Punjab
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 42 99212004
E-mail: law@punjab.gov.pk
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (ua@ahrc.asia)
