A blasphemy case FIR No. 731/24, offence under section 295-B of the Pakistan Penal Code was registered on 27 August, 2024, at Theh Sheikham Police Station District Kasur against two Christian twins brothers, Tabish and Yeshua alias Kalu 18 (y) sons of Shahid. The complainant Ghulam Mustafa son of Khusi Muhammad resident of village Kulay wala District Kasur accused them of desecrating Quran pages.
After hearing about this case on August 28, 2024, CLAAS legal advisor Mr. Akhtar Masih with local facilitators visited the place of occurrence, met with the mother (Nazia Bibi) of the alleged brothers, and collected the facts of this case. According to the facts narrated by Nazia Bibi mother of the alleged boys that they are living in Mission Colony Raiwind District Lahore in a rented house. Both brothers are factory workers in Raiwind. On August 26, 2024, they came to the village of Kulay to meet with their maternal relatives.
Nazia Bibi, her husband Shahid, her daughter Shumyia 14 (y), and younger son Sharjeel 16(y) stayed at home with their relatives, whereas both ‘twin’ brothers had gone to shrine of Baba Ronaq Shah to watch the Uras festivities (An Annual celebration of a Sufi saint) on August 26, 2024.
They had some wastepaper which they had taken from a local Christian shopkeeper and cut them into small pieces and flew the torn pages in the air along with the counterfeit currency (fake currency note with the pieces of an old book of Islamiat on which Holy Quranic verses were written) The actions of the boys were suddenly noticed by some Muslims who gathered at the shrine. They started to beat them leading to accusations of blasphemy. Fearing for their lives, the boys fled from the scene after apologizing. The matter was resolved at that time by forgiving them as they did not commit any offence intentionally.
However, the Muslims who were offended due to this act gathered from the nearest villages and announced in the mosque to act against the blasphemer and demanded for the arrest of the accused brothers. The Christian community of that area was also scared. All Christian families (40-45 families were living in that area) had reportedly escaped away from their homes, fearing possible retaliations or violence from the Muslims who often react strongly to blasphemy allegations. Accused’s family also went back to their own house in Raiwind. The high official of local police (District Police Officer, (DPO) Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) and Station House Officer (SHO) along with police force reached at the spot to control law and order situation. On the complaint of Ghulam Mustafa police registered the blasphemy case against both the twin brothers for disgracing the Holy Quran. After the registration of FIR police arrested Sharif Masih (a church elder who was staying in that area) relative of Nazia Bibi, six other people from Christian community including the shopkeeper who sold the wastepaper. The police also arrested Nazia Bibi (mother of the accused) from Raiwind. After the arrest of these people, both brothers surrendered, and the police released all arrested persons.
Police sent both brothers to judicial lockup in Kasur Jail. While the situation has calmed somewhat following the boys’ arrests, tension remains high in the area, with many Christian residents still fearing for their safety and till August 28, 2024 when CLAAS team visited the village, Christian community did not return back to their homes.
The blasphemy laws in Pakistan, particularly Section 295B and 295C, are frequently misused to target religious minorities and settle personal scores. The current situation in Kasur is glaring reminder of the volatile nature of such accusations and the potentially devastating consequences for those involved.
As the investigation continues, the incident in Kulay Wala serves as a grimy reminder of the challenges faced by religious minorities in Pakistan and the often harsh realities of living in the presence of blasphemy laws. The coming weeks will be crucial in determining the outcome of this case and its impact on the broader community.
Reported by:
Legal Department
CLAAS
August 29, 2024
