Rimsha case: Police to present challan on Sep 21

ISLAMABAD: A civil court in Islamabad on Monday heard the case pertaining to Rimsha Masih, a girl who had been accused of blasphemy, and granted time till September 21 to police to present the case challan, Geo news reported Monday.

During today’s proceedings, the investigation officer pleaded for more time to present the case challan as he was due to present it today. He told the bench that the case is now being supervised by the SSP following court’s directives.

The petitioner’s lawyer requested the court to dismiss Rimsha’s bail and not to grant more time to the investigating officer to present challan.

The court was told that police is threatening the petitioners and their witnesses. On this, the court granted more time to police to present challan and instructed not to threaten the petitioners and the witnesses.

Earlier, on September 7, the additional district and session’s court of Islamabad had granted bail to the accused girl. Later on September 9, Rimsha was airlifted from Adiala Jail to an unspecified location within Islamabad under the protective custody of police after completion of legal formalities by her lawyers.

The girl belonging to the Christian community had been arrested on August 16 under the strict blasphemy laws, prompting concern from Western governments, the Vatican and rights groups.