Time and again, we find that just doesn’t take a whole lot. Asia News reports that the defendant is a Christian, which adds an important dimension to the story: namely, the use of Pakistan’s blasphemy laws to terrorize and repress religious minorities.
“Life term for blasphemy accused,” by Ishaq Tanoli for Dawn, February 25:
KARACHI, Feb 25: A blasphemy accused was sentenced to life imprisonment on Thursday by a sessions court for outraging religious feelings of Muslims while a co-accused was acquitted for want of evidence.
Additional District and Sessions Judge (South) Jangu Khan found Qamar David guilty of using blasphemous remarks about the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) and Holy Quran and pronounced the verdict after hearing final arguments from both sides.
The court imposed a total of Rs101,000 in fine. In case of non-payment, the convict would serve a prison term for another seven months and 10 days.
The sentences will run concurrently.
According to the verdict, a SIM (subscriber identity module) card was found in possession of the convict and the data produced by the cellular company established that messages were sent from the seized SIM.
According to prosecution, Qamar David spread blasphemous messages through his cellphone. Police arrested him in April 2006 and seized his cellphone.
And Dawn just reports all of this so matter-of-factly. All in a day’s work…