Authorities in Pakistan recently arrested 26-year-old Christian Chand Shamaun under blasphemy laws amid a property dispute with his siblings, Morning Star News reported.
The June 23 arrest coincided with a government minister acknowledging that Pakistan has failed to protect religious minorities from false blasphemy accusations, Morning Star noted. Chand and his brother Zeeshan were reportedly detained following claims of Quran desecration, which local Christians denied.
False promises
Deputy Superintendent of Police Mehr Yousaf initially assured residents the brothers would face lesser charges, but Chand was charged under severe blasphemy and anti-terrorism statutes. This led to temporary evacuations by local Christians fearing violence Morning Star reported.
Local Christian leaders, including Bishop Abraham Daniel, condemned the false charges, attributing them to police misconduct. This incident appears to highlight ongoing misuse of blasphemy laws in Pakistan, which Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif acknowledge. He also noted the rising violence against religious minorities.
The National Assembly called for immediate measures to ensure the safety and rights of all citizens, regardless of faith, Morning Star reported.
Pakistan ranked seventh on Open Doors’ 2024 World Watch List of the most difficult places to be a Christian, as it was the previous year.
EDITOR’S NOTE — Full story was written and originally published by Morning Star News.
