A court in Pakistan has granted bail to a Christian woman arrested on blasphemy charges, a rare and sensitive decision that was kept confidential for security reasons until recently.
On Sept. 10, Additional Sessions Judge Gojra Waseem Mubarak approved post-arrest bail for Saima Masih, a widow from Kathore village in Chak No. 304 Gojra, Toba Tek Singh District, Punjab Province.
Saima, a volunteer health worker and mother of two, was accused along with her sister Sonia Faryaad of desecrating Quranic texts, according to a report by the Christian Daily International.
Lawyer Haneef Mattu, Saima’s legal counsel, said the incident was alleged to have occurred on Aug. 6. Mattu said that the accusation stemmed from a personal dispute.
“The sisters were falsely accused of blasphemy by Muhammad Haider after Saima Masih rejected his ‘indecent advances,’” Mattu said.
The accusation led to Saima’s arrest, while her sister, Sonia, a teacher and mother of three, fled the area with her family.
Mattu initially sought pre-arrest bail for Sonia, but the sessions court dismissed the petition. He then approached the Lahore High Court but withdrew the plea following an initial police investigation that cleared Sonia of wrongdoing.
“After the court granted post-arrest bail for Saima Masih, he filed a petition in the Lahore High Court to quash the frivolous charges against the two sisters,” Mattu said.
Despite inconsistencies in the case, the court rejected the petition. Mattu pointed out that issues such as the delayed filing of the First Information Report (FIR) and the lack of direct witnesses were significant flaws in the case.
However, the court advised filing a new application under Section 265-K of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), which permits the court to acquit an accused individual even before charges are formally framed.
The sisters and their families have been moved to an undisclosed location for safety as they await further legal proceedings.
Akmal Bhatti, chairman of Minorities Alliance Pakistan, previously described the volatile situation following the allegations.
“A Muslim mob had attempted to kill Saima Masih when news of the blasphemy allegation spread in the area but timely police intervention had saved her life,” he shared.
Sajid Christopher of the Human Friends Organisation explained that despite Saima’s release, her safety continues to be at risk due to societal pressures and the threat of vigilantism.
He noted that such blasphemy accusations often result in social ostracization, regardless of the legal outcome, leaving Saima and her children in a state of constant danger.
Joseph Jansen, a minority rights activist, highlighted the misuse of blasphemy laws in Pakistan, pointing out that these laws, which include the death penalty, have triggered incidents of mob violence and extrajudicial killings.
Pakistan remains at seventh place on Open Doors’ 2024 World Watch List, ranking among the most challenging countries for Christians, consistent with last year’s ranking.
