Christian blasphemy accused dies in custody under mysterious circumstances in Pak

Lahore, Dec. 3 (ANI): A 22-year-old Christian youth from Pakistan, accused of burning a copy of the Holy Quran, has died in police custody at Warburton police station.

The Nankana Sahib police had reportedly detained the youth, Nadeem, without an FIR seven days ago, reports The Express Tribune.

Police said he was being kept in protective custody. He was later shifted to Warburton police station.

Nankana Sahib district police officer (DPO) Ghulam Mubashar Maken said Nadeem fell severely ill while in custody at Warburton police station and subsequently died.

He said allegations against Nadeem had not been substantiated so far. He added that a local committee of Ulema informed them that there was no proof so far to suggest that Nadeem had burned the Holy Quran. Since they had been waiting for the committee's final decision, no case was registered against the youth, DPO Maken said.

Meanwhile, police have handed over Nadeem's body to his family and have initiated proceedings under section 174.

DPO Maken said Nadeem's father Yousaf had told the police that his son was mentally unstable. He added that even after his son's death, Yousaf was unwilling to take legal action.

Christian woman Asia Bibi, who was sentenced to death in 2010 on blasphemy charges, also hailed from Nankana Sahib. (ANI)