Khator, Gojra – August 7, 2024: A 32-year-old Christian woman, Saima, has been charged under Section 295-B of the blasphemy law and arrested by Sadar Police Station after being accused of desecrating the Holy Quran by her Muslim neighbour, Muhammad Haider.

According to the police report, Haider claimed that on August 6, he saw Sonia throwing a bag of wastepaper into a plot next to his home. Upon inspecting the bag, he discovered pages of the Holy Quran, including a sapara  no. 3 (chapter) with the name Emma Gill and a phone number written on it. Haider, accompanied by local shopkeeper Hamaad Ali, confronted Saima at her house, where he alleges she responded rudely and used inappropriate language.

The incident has ignited severe tension and unrest in the village of Khator, Gojra. The allegations surfaced when Haider and his family alerted the local community about the torn Quran pages, which quickly mobilized against the Christian family. As news of the alleged desecration spread, a large crowd gathered, escalating the situation.

Fearing for her safety, Saima attempted to flee and hide in nearby crop fields but was pursued and tortured by the enraged mob. Upon receiving reports of the incident, the police arrived at the scene, rescued Saima and her family, and took them into custody to protect their lives.

In response to the mob's demands for legal action, the police charged Saima under Section 295-B for allegedly desecrating the holy pages of the Quran. The charged mob, insistent on the registration of a criminal case, blocked roads, further heightening the tension in the area.

Prominent Christian lawyer and Chairman of the Minorities Alliance Pakistan, Akmal Bhatti, visited both the site and the police station. Bhatti strongly refuted the allegations, declaring, "These charges are baseless. Saima is being implicated in this case due to the ulterior motives of her Muslim neighbours."

Bhatti called on the police to conduct a fair and unbiased investigation in line with Section 156 of the Criminal Procedure Code, urging them not to yield to the mob's pressure. He demanded justice for Saima and her family and insisted that those who made the accusations should also be arrested and investigated for making such severe allegations.

The situation in Khator remains tense, with the community calling for a peaceful and just resolution to the incident. The case has highlighted the urgent need for measures to protect minority rights and ensure fair legal proceedings in such sensitive matters.