Pakistan: Third Blasphemy Case in a Month, Christians Fear for Safety
by Nasir Saeed • July 19, 2023 at 5:00 am
Mohd Abdul Gaffar, a retired Pakistan Air Force officer from Green Town, reported that as he was returning home after morning prayers... he discovered a small pamphlet containing blasphemous content on the boundary wall of his house. The contents of the pamphlet were highly disrespectful towards Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and other revered figures. The pamphlet also contained derogatory comments against the holy Quran and even praised the recent burning of a Quran in Sweden.
Past incidents include those... where several people were murdered, some burned alive, while dozens of Christians are still languishing in prison, awaiting their fate. It is worth noting that all those accused of committing blasphemy (who were not murdered by lynch mobs) were eventually proven innocent in court and freed.
It is believed that, regrettably, certain individuals in Pakistan are exploiting the incident of the Quran burning in Sweden as an excuse to fuel the flames of hatred and seek revenge against local Christians, who are peaceful, believe in respect for all religions, and have no connection to the Swedish incident.
It is crucial for the Pakistani government to take necessary steps to stop the ongoing misuse of the Penal Code's blasphemy sections against Christians and other religious minorities in Pakistan.
Another blasphemy incident has occurred in Pakistan, in the district of Sargodha on July 16, sending shockwaves throughout the country. This disturbing incident has ignited unrest in the area, leaving local Christians deeply concerned for their safety.
Mohd Abdul Gaffar, a retired Pakistan Air Force officer from Green Town, reported that as he was returning home after morning prayers with the imam of the local mosque and two friends, he discovered a small pamphlet containing blasphemous content on the boundary wall of his house. The contents of the pamphlet were highly disrespectful towards Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and other revered figures. The pamphlet also contained derogatory comments against the holy Quran and even praised the recent burning of a Quran in Sweden. Disturbing sketches targeting revered personalities were found as well.