Bail Petition Filed for Man Accused of Blasphemy and Jailed

By Jeremy Reynalds
Senior Correspondent for ASSIST News Service

LAHORE, PAKISTAN (ANS) -- Lawyers for Khuram Masih, a Christian accused of blasphemy and jailed, are still hopeful for his bail. He has a petition for bail scheduled to be heard on Oct. 8 in the court of Sayyed Mazahar, Ali Akbar Naqvi, a High Court judge.

Khuram Masih

According to an Internet posting by Lawyers of the Legal Evangelical Association Development (LEAD), which followed his case, the 23-year-old man was physically worn out but overjoyed that he has survived.

LEAD said he has not stopped thanking God for allowing justice to triumph.

According to LEAD, on Dec. 5 2011, a blasphemy case was filed in Lahore against Masih.

He was accused of burning pages of the Quran, was arrested the same day and jailed. LEAD said he has been beaten by police officials while in custody.

LEAD said its attorneys tracked the case and filed a petition for bail. That petition was dismissed on Jan. 3 2012.

According to LEAD, a second petition for bail was filed in Lahore High Court in which Judge Sayyed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi, ordered that a trial be wrapped up within three months.

After seven months, LEAD filed another bail petition in the same judge's court.

LEAD said, "We are very hopeful that the bail will be granted, and he will be released very soon and united with his family, (just as) Rimsha Masih was released on bail."

LEAD said the president of PCC of Lahore District and National Director of LEAD Missionary Pastor and Advocate Mushtaq Gill urged the Pakistani government to take strong measures regarding the abuses of blasphemy laws against Pakistani Christians.

LEAD said he also requested that the policy be amended so that those accused of blasphemy be granted bail until a trial has concluded.

LEAD asked readers to partner with the organization regarding its fight for the persecuted church in Pakistan.