Pakistan court acquits 115 accused of torching Christians’ houses over alleged blasphemy of the Prophet Muhammad, by Anugrah Kumar.

A Pakistani court on Saturday acquitted all 115 suspects accused of torching a number of houses and shops of Christians here in 2013 over a blasphemy issue, citing lack of evidence. …

On March 8, 2013, thousands of protesters armed with sticks, clubs and stones ransacked Joseph Colony and set over 125 residential properties, shops as well as some motorcycles and rickshaws and a church on fire after a word was spread in the locality that a Chritisan had committed blasphemy. …

A prosecution lawyer argued the evidence provided by the prosecution team is enough to convict the suspects. “This incident not only spread a wave of terrorism in Lahore but also brought a bad to name to Pakistan,” he said.

But a Pakistani court ensured that the Christian who blasphemed was killed:

Hundreds of Christians were displaced following the incident. … Police had also arrested a Christian, who was accused of blasphemy. A trial court had tried him under blasphemy charges and sentenced him to death in 2014.

Pakistan has nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles.

hat-tip Scott of the Pacific