Inquiry into Sargodha incident demanded

Islamabad: The brutal assault and subsequent death of Nazir Masih, a defenceless elderly man, over alleged blasphemy of the Holy Quran in Mujahid Colony, Sargodha, is a shameful and inhumane act. 

This incident is a continuation of the events that occurred in Jaranwala and similar incidents before it, which are increasingly becoming more frequent, Chairman Human Rights Committee Punjab Bar Waheed Javed Advocate said, says a press release

He along with Shahid Mahmood Langaryal Advocate, Revd. Father Jacob Dogra, Revd. Pastor Rashid Manzoor, Pastor Adil Gill, Adnan Javaid Advocate, Arthur James Advocate, Amir Mehtab Advocate, Gabriel Frances Advocate while addressing a press conference on the sad incident, said that, if our rulers had ensured the implementation of the judgment given by Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Justice Tasadduq Hussain Jillani on minority rights in 2014, we would not be witnessing such incidents today.

“Therefore, we demand that the government strictly enforce the existing law, which mandates filing an FIR after an inquiry by a senior police officer, following such incidents. A complete inquiry should be conducted into the FIR filed against Nazir Masih in the Sargodha incident so that the facts of the case can be brought to light,” he added. He said that if the allegations against Nazir Masih are not proven, then action should be taken against the accuser under the same sections applied to Nazir Masih.

Furthermore, the speakers demanded that the committees established at the district level across the country for religious harmony should be activated so that they can play a role in improving the law and order situation in such incidents.