An article on another blasphemy case in Pakistan.
Aside from the tragedy in that the alleged blasphemer is known to be mentally ill, and yet charges were still broguht against him, what is interesting is the community that both he and his accusers are from.
This is the first that I’ve ever heard of Ismailis, traditionally assumed to be on the more liberal side of Pakistani socity, filing blasphemy charges against anyone, let alone one of their own.
GILGIT:
A person arrested in Gilgit for alleged blasphemy is mentally ill and was recently being treated at a hospital, The Express Tribune learnt on Sunday.
“The father of Yaqoob, the accused, had come to the police station with documents proving his mental illness,” a source said on condition of anonymity.
On Saturday evening, a young man from Yaseen, Ghizer, had allegedly uttered insulting comments against Prophet Mohammad (pbuh), triggering a protest in the town. The police arrested the man and launched a case against him under the blasphemy law.
Abdur Rauf, a resident of Kondas Gilgit had submitted an application with the city police station saying he had witnessed the incident.
The sources who are familiar with the developments said that Taifur Shah, father of the accused, approached the police to say that what his son said was unintentional as he had suffered from mental sickness in the past. “His father also showed them documents to support his claim,” sources said, adding that documents were related to his son’s admission in hospital and his treatment.
The police, however, asked him to present the documents in court when the hearing begins.
Meanwhile, Ismaili Regional Council Gilgi issued a strong condemnation on the act of alleged blasphemy and urged the government to take strong action against the accused.
In a press statement issued by the president of Ismaili Regional Council Gilgit, Manzoor Ali said that no Muslim can tolerate disrespect towards the Holy Prophet (PBUH) . Ali appreciated the law enforcing agencies’ sharp reaction in arresting the alleged blasphemer.