Pak prosecutor asks Christians to convert to avoid conviction
Team Udayavani, Mar 30, 2017, 2:39 PM IST
Islamabad (Pakistan): A senior Pakistani prosecutor has been accused of blackmailing dozens of Christians after he allegedly asked them to embrace Islam to avoid conviction in the killing of two Muslims in mass violence two years ago.
Violence erupted in Youhanabad Christian neighbourhood of Lahore on March 15, 2015 after suicide blasts targeted Sunday mass in two churches. Some 42 Christians were charged with lynching two Muslim men, suspecting them of involvement in the blasts.
Joseph Franci, a rights activist who is legally assisting the accused, said that Deputy District Public Prosecutor (DDPP) Syed Anees Shah told the accused that they can be acquitted if they renounce Christianity, The Express Tribune reported.
“He told them if they embrace Islam, he can guarantee them their acquittal in this case,” Joseph said. The activist said the accused remained silent and were dumbfounded.
Naseeb Anjum Advocate said that the public prosecutor’s offer was not new and added that he had also given this offer to some of the accused about six months back but they rejected it.
“They believe in independence of the court, but why is the DDPP blackmailing them?” He asked. “The government should get rid of such elements that bring bad name to the state by such acts.”
Shah, when contacted, said that he did not ask them to embrace Islam, but conceded that he offered them a choice when he was told that the accused have a video recording of what he said, the report said.
The minorities in Pakistan in the past have been accusing Muslim clerics of forcibly converting them to Islam but it is for the first time that a state functionary used conversion as an incentive to dodge legal proceeding.
Udayavani is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel and stay updated with the latest news.
Top News
Related Articles More
Bomb disposal squad tackles ‘security incident’ at UK’s Gatwick Airport
Baku climate talks: The ‘X’ factor that could determine future of Global South
India-US ties have strong foundation: White House confident in navigating crisis over Adani bribery charges
PM Modi leaves for home after concluding three-nation visit
China announces new policy measures to protect its exports from Trump’s new tariff threat
MUST WATCH
Latest Additions
Drugs worth Rs 6 crore seized in Bengaluru, five arrested
Siddaramaiah urges Nirmala Sitharaman to address NABARD’s loan cuts to farmers
Satwik-Chirag enter semifinals, Lakshya loses to Antonsen in China Masters
BJP stages protest against Congress govt in Karnataka over Waqf properties row
Loyalty Remembered: Mangaluru Airport’s K9 hero Jack passes away
Thanks for visiting Udayavani
You seem to have an Ad Blocker on.
To continue reading, please turn it off or whitelist Udayavani.