Blasphemy case: Court extends Rimsha Masih's remand

ISLAMABAD: The 14-year-old Christian girl, who has been charged with blasphemy after allegedly burning papers containing Quranic verses, has been sent to jail on 14-days judicial remand, Geo News reported Friday.

Rimsha Masih was presented in the judicial magistrate’s court today amid tight security.

During the hearing of the case, no lawyer appeared to represent Rimsha Masih while her family was also absent from the court.

The investigating officer told the court that investigation from Rimsha has not yet concluded, therefore, he pleaded for more time.

The court extended her remand for 14 days and instructed the officer to present the challan as early as possible.

On Thursday, questions were raised about girl’s age and whether she was mentally impaired or not.

Additional and District Session judge Jawad Abbas heard the case and delayed a bail hearing after a lawyer challenged a medical report putting the girl’s age at 14.

The judge said that the hearing would be conducted on Saturday while he seeks clarification on how the report was conducted.

A medical report submitted Tuesday put her age at 14, which makes her a minor. But a lawyer representing the man accusing the girl of burning the Quran challenged the report.

However, the counsel for Rimsha Masih told the court that the medical was conducted by a 14 prominent doctor’s team. The strict security was taken in the premises of the court and international media, Christian community and other people were present on the occasion.

The girl belonging to the Christian community who is said to be suffering from Down Syndrome has been held since Aug 16 under the strict blasphemy laws, prompting concern from Western governments, the Vatican and rights groups.