News Desk
On June 23, Pakistani police arrested a Christian man in Okara, Punjab under blasphemy charges, allegedly as part of a property dispute with his siblings, spreading fear in the local Christian community.
Chand Shamaun, 26, was taken into custody by officers from the Okara A-Division Police Station at his home in Christian Colony, Okara District, Punjab Province.
The arrest followed a disagreement with his siblings over their ancestral home property, according to local Christian leader Younis Chauhan.
Chauhan was with other Christians when Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Mehr Yousaf arrived with other officers. “The police asked if we knew about any Holy Quran desecration in the colony,” Chauhan said.
“We told them no such incident had occurred, but DSP Yousaf insisted on going to his house. Once there, they arrested his elder brother, Zeeshan Shamaun, who was asleep at the time.
“The arrest seems related to Chand’s disputes with his siblings, Zeeshan and Zunaira, the latter having converted to Islam recently. When police tried to arrest Chand Shamaun, he fled to Christian Colony on foot, he added
In the case against Chand the complainant is a police officer who seems to have fabricated the incident, he told
This incident highlights ongoing issues with blasphemy laws in Pakistan and the risks faced by religious minorities from false accusations.