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Alleged blasphemy in PIMS seen as conspiracy
ISLAMABAD, June 7(Daily Times): The accusation of blasphemy against
Christian nurses, particularly the principal of the nursing school of Pakistan
Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), is a conspiracy to remove her from the
post or transfer her, said Shahbaz Bhatti, chairman All Pakistan Minorities
Alliance (APMA).
Addressing a press conference here, he said that
Christian students had denied the allegations against them and offered to prove
their innocence at any forum.
He said that no Christian nurse could
commit such an act as they respect all the religions and had great respect for
Islam and the Holy Prophet (PBUH).
"The blasphemy case against the
Christian student nurses is a blatant example of religious discrimination, there
is absolutely no evidence against them," Bhatti said and asked, "Why they have
been singled out and suspended without any independent investigation of the
matter?"
He said that the principal of the nursing school, Stella Nazir,
was on leave from May 14 to May 23, 2007, whereas the incident took place on May
17. "The suspension of the principal and student nurses is illegal, unethical
and biased, as no evidence is provided nor any show cause notices were served
before the suspension," he said. "If the principal can be suspended in such a
manner then the other administration authorities should also be suspended,"
Bhatti said. "The registration of a blasphemy case requires an inquiry by an
officer of the rank of superintendent of police (SP)," Bhatti said, adding that
in the current case rules were bypassed.
He said that the FIR was lodged
on June 1, 2007, 14 days after the occurrence of the alleged blasphemy at the
PIMS as the incident took place on May 17. He added the date of incident
mentioned in the FIR was May 27, which was incorrect and showed the "mala fide"
intention and conspiracy against Christian nurses. "No action was taken against
the Muslim student nurses who harassed the Christian nurses and called Jamia
Hafsa students to terrorise the Christian nurses," he said. Bhatti said that the
false allegations against the Christian nurses had damaged the environment of
peaceful coexistence and interfaith harmony.
"There is no direct evidence
and nobody is an eyewitness to the alleged blasphemy, the case is altogether
based on ulterior motives of the vested interests," he claimed.
Bhatti
condemned the act of harassment by Jamia Hafsa students against the Christian
nurses and appealed to the acting chief justice of Supreme Court to take suo
motu notice of this incident.
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