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Blasphemy suspect gets bail
Justice Fazal-e-Miran Chohan of the Lahore High Court has granted bail to a blasphemy accused and observed that individuals could not lodge a case under Section 295-A of the Pakistan Penal Code.Justice Chohan said that Section 295-A, which applies to a malicious act meant to outrage the religious sentiments of any sect, was not an offence against an individual but the state. The procedure for a court to try someone for the offence required that the complaint be made by an authority given this power by the central or provincial governments, he said. The judge observed that such a procedure had not been followed in this case and so he granted the defendant, Mohammad Yousaf, bail at Rs 50,000. Yousafs lawyer Rabbiya Bajwa pleaded that the charge against her client was false and made because the accuser was involved in other litigation with the accused. She said Yousaf was a Muslim and would not dare to blaspheme. Posted by: Fred 2006-10-31 |
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