The Voice members came to know about the incidence of the Blasphemy case on 13th March 2012 occurred in khichiwala village tehsil Fortabbas. The Voice team visited Khichiwala village for the fact finding. There at khichiwala the circumstances were not very good and the atmosphere regarding the Muslims was not very friendly. We met Bashir Masih the husband of the Victim/accused and her in-laws, Saleem Masih, Mushtaq Masih, Jalal Masih (father of accused) Bashiran Bibi and few others and asked them about the details of the case. They told us that Shamim Bibi was trapped in this case as she is a very religious and faithful woman where as some of the relatives of Shamim bibi (in-laws) were converted to Islam. We (Bashir, his wife and some other relatives) went to see them and ask them about the reason, but in return they started to invite us to convert to Islam. Shamim and we all refused and came back to our house. Next day some local Muslim clerics came to our house and threatened us that if you ever go to the house of our new-Muslim brothers and sisters we will file a case against you. On second day i.e. 27th -02-12 they prepared Hammad Ahmad a neighbor to file the case against Shamim Bibi who strictly refused to convert to Islam. Hammad prepared one of his friends named Abdul-Qayyum to complain against Shamim Bibi. They both went to their Imam Masjid named Syed Azhar Ali Shah and told him about the incidence. Next day Syed Azhar Ali Shah along with both men Hammad and Abdul qayum went to the police station and filed an application against Shamim Bibi. Police upon their arrival filed an FIR (First Information report) against Shamim u/s 295C on 28-02-12. Later they got arrested her at night almost at 12:30am. Later Abdul-Qayyum gave a statement that he was not present at the time of the incidence. Christians at the locality were confident that if one witness refuses to give the evidence than it is not a strong case and it is very easy for the police to acquit the victim/accused. But as the law states in Pakistan Penal Code, there is no need of Evidence to prove the Blasphemy u/s 295 C. The only witness is the complainant who has heard the derogatory remarks by any means. Thus it is not an easy case to handle with.
The Voice team did the counseling of the family and made them realize about the sensitivity of the case. Later on 15th March the Voice team went to jail at district Bahawalnagar to see the victim/accused and had the Power of Attorney signed by the victim of Advocate Aneeqa. M. Anthony. We also met DPO Mr. Suleman A. Khan and SP.Mr. Irfan Ullah to collect the facts about the case. SP was doing the investigation and he acted very rude and biased when we asked him about the status of the investigation moreover when we asked him to record the statements of the family of the victim he refused badly and rudely said that he doesn’t need any statements from victim’s side instead he said, “ I have challaned the Bibi because she is a blasphemer, I have written in my investigation what I have heard and know is true”.
The Voice collected the evidence i.e. 20 stamp papers of the local people (Christians) as Muslims were still not ready to give evidence in support of Shamim Bibi although they were saying that she is innocent. Moreover we also came to know that conversion is not only the reason behind this case, Hammad the complainant was actually having a bad eye on the Bibi and when she told her husband and her brothers and father, about Hammad’s filthy intentions than Hammad got anxious about the result and therefore he made out the reason to get rid of the Bibi and her family.
Later we filed the bail application on 17th March and it was fixed for 22nd March in the court of Additional Sessions Judge Fort Abbas Mr. Mehar Abid. Arguments by Advocate Aneeqa were heard by the judge and the decision is pending for 24th March 12. We will keep you posted about further proceeding. Police is going to submit the Challan on 24th as well in the court of Magistrate Sec 30 Mr. Mohammad Asif Mehmood. The Voice team is waiting for the decision as well as Challan.
The Voice is supporting the family legally and financially and no other organization is involved in the proceedings as well as in any sort of matters relating to the family of Bashir masih.
Update: We filed an application for the transfer of the case and the Bail in Bahawalnagar because of the sceurity issues of the Victim as well as of the Lawyer of Shamim Bibi in the court of the Sessions Judge Bahawalnagar which was accepted and the date of hearing was fixed for the 10th of April. Later on the 10th of April the court adjourned th e bail petiotion and fixed for 17th of April upon the request of the opponent/prosecution lawyer. The bail petition was dismissed by the Additional Sessions Judge Bahawalnagar Mr. Muhammad Azam on 17th April after a detailed arguments from the defence side on the grounds that the star evidence named Hammad stated on Oath in the court that Shamim Bibi has commited the Blasphemy.
Transfer Application in Lahore:
After getting refusal on bail we are sure that the court is highly biased and under pressure of the locals as well therefore we have filed an application for the transfer of this case as well as bail in Lahore High Court. The last date of hearing in this case in High court was 10th of May but the case was left over and new date of hearing will be announced later by the high court. We all are waiting for the date.
Latest Update:
The Bail was granted on 30th Oct 2012 from Bahawalpur High Court.