Pakistan court acquits 115 accused of torching Christians’ houses over alleged blasphemy of the Prophet Muhammad

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