Pakistan court acquits girl in blasphemy case

A Pakistani police officer and a Christian volunteer escort a young Christian girl accused of blasphemy to a helicopter following her release from prison on the outskirts of Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Sept. 8, 2012. / AP

Islamabad A defense lawyer says a Pakistani court has acquitted a Christian girl accused of blasphemy over the burning of the Muslim holy book.

Attorney Abdul Hameed says Tuesday's order exonerated his client for lack of evidence and dismissed the charges against her, concluding they were based on heresy and incriminated material that was planted in the girl's possession.

The case has caused an international outcry over Pakistan's strict blasphemy laws, which are very popular in the country. A Muslim cleric was later accused of stashing pages of a Quran in the girl's bag to make it seem like she burned the Islamic holy book.

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Police have also found the girl appeared to be under age and mentally impaired.

Pakistan's blasphemy laws carry life in prison or the death sentence.

A lawyer for the family said that neither the accused girl nor any of her family members were present in court on Tuesday.

[rwsmith29456]

These people say that they are so righteous and doing Allah's will. But framing a mentally disabled teenager is good because Allah says that the persecution and killing of non-muslims is a good thing no matter how it is accomplished. I'm glad that the court had better judgement.

[aintfakin]

looking at these actions it would appear that these clerics have no faith in their own allah to "get the job done"

[barbaram99]

The girl is said to mentally disabled and so she could not have done it.. It appalling that she was set up..She may not be able to read and so it makes no sense that she would do this.. They need to punish the man that set it up..Some people just hate..

[IPonUall2]

They should stone him twice.

[nagtanawlang]

Well, if it says here that the Imam planted it all along. Can the Muslims now be true to themselves - isn't what he did is blasphemous? This Imam needs to be punished to the same fate.

[lloydbest1]

I haven't found any source yet that specifies what this imam (Khalid Jadoon Chishti) is being charged with. It may come to pass that blasphemy will be among the charges.
He may be a "man of God" but godly he ain't. I think a blasphemy charge would be legitimate and if convicterd, Chisti should suffer the same fate as this child would have.....

[mshiever]

Not sure how this works. If the Cleric planted the burned Quran, is he on the hook for Blasphemy?

[chonder2]

It is very disturbing to know that a country like Pakistan has atomic weapons.

[Lynx1111]

where do you think they got them/$ for them?

[Booleyman]

OMG He/She said words! Burn him/her!