CLAAS was informed about blasphemy case registered against two married Christian women at Gojra. On August 09, 2024, CLAAS team travelled to the concerned police satiation Sadar Gojra District Toba Take Singh for meeting with the Investigation officer and to collect the FIR (First Information Report). While the team was in meeting, a group of local facilitators were also waiting for the meeting with the concerned police officials.
The concerned Investigation officer informed us that a blasphemy case FIR. No.924/24, offence under section 295-B of the Pakistan Penal Code was registered against two sisters Sonia and Saima daughters of Jamadar Masih on August 07, 2024. The incident happened on August 06, 2024, and the complainant Muhammad Haider accused them of disgracing the pages of the Holy Quran.
He added that on August 07, 2024, police was informed by someone through emergency call at 15 (Police Helpline) that a mob of Muslims has gathered and planning to attack the village 304 near Motorway interchange for Gojra.
After the registration of the FIR police arrested Saima on the spot and after getting order from the judicial Magistrate of the area sent her into judicial lockup and she is confined in Toba Take Singh jail whereas Sonia is absconding. Police enquired about Sonia from the locals who were gathered at the police station and forced them to produce her. The police explained the whole incident but assured that police will only accuse Saima and will make it possible to declare Sonia as innocent if she is not guilty, whereas in the FIR both women were nominated by the complainant.
However, according to the complainant stated in the FIR that Sonia threw a bag of waste papers in front of his house and when he examined those papers, he found some paper of Holy Quran (Para No. 03) and on this Para a mobile number was written. He along with some other Muslim community members went to her house to question about this heinous act of disgracing the Holy Quran, but Saima started to misbehave with them.
According to the facts narrated by the local facilitator that police also arrested Yasir son of Sadiq Masih and two unknown Christians in this case and they are approaching for their release. After hearing from them about the arrest of these Christian who had no connection with this matter CLAAS team requested for a meeting with the higher official for their release. The higher official explained that they arrested them just to calm the situation, as Muslims are demanding for the arrest of Sonia. Therefore the police asked to make possible for Sonia to join the investigation.
After meeting with the police officials, CLAAS collected the more facts from the local councilors who are dealing with the police and arranged lawyer for the accused women. They belong to Christian Town Gojra and incident happened in near village 304 street interchange Gojra. In the village 304 almost 30-35 Christian families are living among the Muslim majority.
According to them, Saima and Sonia both are real sisters. They are married. Saima has two children and her husband died in a road accident few years ago. She is a health worker and working in the local area. Sonia is a mother of three and living with her husband, had been running a Sunday school in her area but has closed her Sunday school for over a year. The complainant of the FIR, Muhammad Haider is a Pathan and knew both sisters, who are living with their in-laws in their own houses.
They had personal house properties (two houses of their parents and in-laws). Muhammad Haider visited Saima’s house frequently and after a personal dispute; when Saima warned him to stay away from her then he planned to take revenge from her. Hence, on August 06, 2024 he took a bag of discarded papers and asked Saima about the phone number which was written on some papers of the Holy Quran which were thrown in the empty plot in front of his house. At this point, arguments started among Saima and Muhammad Haider. The matter was brought to the knowledge of a local political member of PTI and a compromise took place between the parties due to no witness. Next day on August 07, 2024 the complainant Muhammad Haider called the local Muslim majority to unite against the blasphemer, they made a plan to attack on the area. The timely intervention of police in the situation, saved the Christian community from the violent attack of Muslims due to blasphemy accusation. However, Muhammad Haider was not investigated by the police for collecting the wastepaper which he found in front of his house and why he examined these papers as he is not a trash collector.
CLAAS lawyer also talked to Saima and Sonia’s brother Hanook and asked about Sonia’ pre-arrest bail as it was observed that police will not spare her and after her arrest will send to judicial lockup. The lawyer was informed that Sonia’s pre-arrest bail was moved and is fixed for August 22, 2024. CLAAS was in contact with them for further legal consultancy in this matter.
• In the past few months, we have witnessed a mob lynching in district Jaranawla and Sargodha in which Christian minorities were under attack. The failure of the state to protect the most vulnerable religious minorities has been displayed.
• It was also observed that in blasphemy cases it is not possible for an accused to write her/his name and mobile number on the paper of the Holy Quran or write any derogatory remarks, but police while registering the FIR against the accused ignore this fact. • The Gojra city was burnt in 2009 after the allegation of blasphemy in which 07 Christian were burnt alive in the mob attack. After this incident peace committees are working on interfaith harmony, many organizations are working for the awareness to promote communal harmony but yet the mindset of the majority Muslims to stop the misuse of blasphemy law has not ended. The recent incident is evident of the misuse of blasphemy law in Pakistan. Reported by:
