Police drop charges against Pakistani Christian man accused of blasphemy

Arif Masih, the father of two sons and two daughters, had been implicated in an alleged false blasphemy case in Chak (village) # 129, in the district of Faisalabad, after a property dispute with a local Muslim on Tuesday, April 5, 2011.

He had been falsely accused by the Muslim he was in dispute with, with ripping up parts of the Koran.

The Masih Foundation, a Pakistani charity dedicated to helping and protecting the poor and vulnerable, immediately got involved with the case and began contacting those concerned with the alleged case and also helped Arif Masih’s extended family who has been in hiding since his arrest.

Now comes the good news that the police have dropped the charges against Arif Masih and the Masih Foundation has provided armed escort to safely move him to an undisclosed location.

Mr. Haroon Barkat Masih, Chairman of the Masih Foundation, said, “We had managed to arrange 50 testimonies, mostly from Muslims, who assured us that Arif Masih was innocent, has a sound character that has been living in the vicinity as peaceful citizen.

“In addition to these testimonies, the Masih Foundation had assured international pressure and was in constant contact with the hierarchy of the Punjab Government, while on the other hand, the clerics who have been visiting the police station, have been abusing the police and Arif Masih.”

He went again, “On Saturday, Arif Masih’s relatives were traveling towards Faisalabad, they and were intercepted and attacked. By the grace of God no one was injured and they immediately turned back.

“The ‘Land Mafia’ tried to occupy the property owned by Arif Masih, which led to the whole incident. We will do all they can to ensure safety and security of his family and are working on Arif Masih’s extended family’s relocation, education of the children, and we are arranging a respectable source of income for the family which will be a challenge.”

Extra judicial killings have become common in Pakistan as two brothers were murdered outside the court in July 2010. The police says that because Arif Masih has now been released, he is no longer their responsibility and so he is now more prone to danger and possibly killing. Arif Masih is now dependent on Masih Foundation for his safety and security.”

Masih Foundation has told ANS that it is “in constant contact with the hierarchy of the Punjab Government” and his “leaving no stone unturned” in getting the matter [the safety of him and his family] resolved.