On June 4th, 2024 fifty year old Jameela wife of Jacob resident of Lahore Cantt went to a general store to purchase a shampoo. At the shop she had an argument with the shop owner Asif Ali who later accused her of committing blasphemy.
On the same day i.e. on June 4th, 2024 a case (First Information Report) FIR No. 2530/24, offence under section 295-C of the Pakistan Penal Code was registered against her and she was immediately sent to judicial lock up. The FIR was lodged in the police station North Cantt, Lahore on the complaint of Asif Ali s/o Ashiq Ali.
Upon learning about this case, CLAAS team visited the Superintendent of Police (SP) office, collected a copy of the FIR, and had a meeting with the SP investigation.
The concerned Investigation Official (IO) shared that the police received a call from the place of incident i.e. Sarfraz Rafiqui Road Cantt Lahore against Jameela Bibi that she had committed blasphemy. Immediately, police reached the place of occurrence to maintain the law-and-order situation. Police arrested her and lodged the FIR against her on behalf of the complainant. He also shared that a mob was gathered at the place of occurrence, and they detained Jameela till the police arrived but did not torture her. Due to the sensitivity of this case, police provided security to the rest of the Christian community of that area.
The police official added that one of her sons has embraced Islam and had readopted Christianity. He said the police are ready to protect the accused, but the religious leaders are not ready to pardon the blasphemy accused. The police official further disclosed that as per the allegation of the complainant, Jameela Bibi compared the Prophets of Islam and Christianity.
Upon asking about her mental health police officer shared that before sending her to judicial lockup in Kot Lakhpat Jail Lahore with the order of Area Magistrate police got her physical medical examination done from Mian Munshi Hospital Lahore. However, Jameela Bibi was not examined by any Government Psychiatry hospital.
When CLAAS inquired about Jamila’s family, the police official said they had moved somewhere else and did not contact her. However CLAAS visited the area and talked with a local woman who shared that Jameela has three sons and one daughter. Her husband and children were not accommodating her and left the house after the incident. She was reluctant to share further information regarding the incident and said that local police and parish priest are in contact with the Christian community of that area. The atmosphere is peaceful therefore community did not want to share and allow disclosing the matter to others.
According to the FIR, the complainant blamed that he is the owner of Ashaq super store at Sagar Road Kotwali Mohalla. On the day of incident i.e. June 04, 2024 at about 6: 30 am he was present in his shop.
A woman named Jameela Bibi wife of Jacob resident of Lahore Cantt visited his store to purchasing Sunsilk shampoo. On her demand he gave shampoo to her, the moment she saw “Darood Sharif” (Islamic religious verse) and started to compare Jesus Christ with the Prophet (PBUH) of Islam and she passed derogatory remarks against the prophet (PBUH). He also stated that he tried to stop her but she went out from the place of occurrence. Further the complainant also mentioned two eyewitnesses of this incident as in their presence Jameela Bibi also passed derogatory remarks. On his complaint the case was registered and police arrested her and sent her to the judicial lockup.
After CLAAS visit to the place of occurrence CLAAS team came to know that no one is ready to help her because of fear, so CLAAS decided her legally support. CLAAS deputed its lawyer who got signed power of attorney of Jameela Bibi from the jail.
After getting power of attorney, on June 15, 2024 the CLAAS team met with the local parish priest of St. Joseph Church at Sarfraz Rafiqui Road Cantt Lahore regarding Jameela’s family. He shared that the family is in contact with the church members and also confirmed that Jameela is mentally unstable as frequently people in that area noticed her standing outside of the church, shouting without any reason and talking to herself.
He added that many people from the Muslim majority know that the complainant falsely alleged Jameela Bibi in a heinous offence of blasphemy and that is why the Muslim majority did not show biased attitude toward the Christian community of that area.
CLAAS has moved her post-arrest bail on June 25, 2024 in the court of Mr. Nouman Muhammad Naeem Additional Session Judge Lahore which was fixed for arguments on next date of hearing July 02, 2024. On July 02, 2024 his family (husband and son) appeared in the court with another lawyer and they changed their council.
Reported by:
Legal Department
CLAAS
June 25, 2024
