Senior Journalist.Lahore.
Pakistan’s anti-terrorism court has acquitted two brothers in a high profile blasphemy case in Punjab province. It is noteworthy that during the hearing it was said that both the brothers were implicated due to personal enmity. Let us tell you that in Pakistan there is a provision of death penalty for blasphemy.
The case pertains to the burning of 24 churches and 86 houses of Christians by a violent mob of thousands of Muslims in Jaranwala town, about 130 km from Lahore, on August 16, 2023, on charges of desecration of the Quran. The mob was led by the radical Islamic party, Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP). It is noteworthy that after the incident in Jaranwala, hundreds of Christians left their homes and ran away.
More than 100 people arrested for attacking Christian homes are currently facing trial. The police also arrested two brothers, Umar Salim alias Rocky and Umair Salim alias Raja. Judge Muhammad Hussain of the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Faisalabad ordered the acquittal of the two Christian brothers after it was revealed that they were framed by local Muslims due to personal enmity.