Prayer leader arrested for 'fabricating' evidence in Pak Christian girl blasphemy case

Rawalpindi, Sept. 2 (ANI): The Islamabad police have arrested a prayer leader on charges of fabricating evidence, which was used to accuse the minor Christian girl of committing blasphemy.

The girl, Rimsha Masih, was accused of committing blasphemy after a neighbour saw her allegedly burning pages inscribed with verses from the Holy Quran. The news of desecrating the Quran spread like wild fire, following which furious locals bashed up Rimsha and her mother. She was later arrested by the police on the demand of the locals.

The witness- Hafiz Muhammad Zubair- who recorded his statement with the Rawalpindi magistrate, said he was sitting in the mosque when some people handed the burnt pages to cleric Khalid Jadoon, who then added additional pages of the Quran to the pile, saying it was necessary to do so to strengthen their case, reports The Express Tribune.

The Islamabad police have arrested Jadoon and are further investigating the case.

Rimsha, who reportedly suffers from Down Syndrome, has been held since August 16 under the strict blasphemy laws, prompting concern from Western governments, the Vatican and rights groups. According to medical reports Rimsha is 14 years old, with mental ability below her real age. (ANI)