Muslims in the Pakistani city of Faisalabad are threatening to torch the houses of Christians after the arrest of two Christian brothers over alleged blasphemy charges in the first week of July, ANS has learned.
Walter Naveed of Human Rights Focus Pakistan told ANS that Rashid Emmanuel, 32 and Sajid Masih, 30, had been running "United Ministries Pakistan" for the last two years in Daudnagar near the Warispura Christian colony of Faisalabad.
He said the pair was accused by Khurram Shahzad, a Muslim man, of pasting allegedly blasphemous posters in a truck station in Faisalabad.
"The arrests have provoked Muslims to take out agitation rallies across Faisalabad," Naveed told ANS.
He explained how they had been set up.
"They (Rashid Emmanuel and Sajid Masih) received a phone call a week ago. The caller told them that he would like to meet them in connection with their ministry's website," said Naveed.
When Rashid went to meet the caller at the nearby railway station, the appointed venue of the meeting, the police were already there waiting for him.
Mr Naveed said that the police took Rashid to police station and he was later charged with committing blasphemy against the prophet Muhammad.
"When Sajid, Rashid's brother, went to tell the police that his brother was innocent, he too was arrested by the police."
The two Christian men now could face the death penalty.
295-C of Pakistan Penal Code reads: "Use of derogatory remarks, etc; in respect of the Holy Prophet. Whoever by words, either spoken or written or by visible representation, or by any imputation, innuendo, or insinuation, directly or indirectly, defiles the sacred name of the Holy Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) shall be punished with death, or imprisonment for life, and shall also be liable to fine."
Naveed disclosed that Khurram Shahzad had lodged a police First Information Report (FIR) against Rashid Emmanuel and Sajid Masih and quoted him as stating stating that he read many posters containing "blasphemous content" in the Faisalabad Lorry Station and that details of the United Ministries Pakistan were present on the posters.
