Rawalpindi: September 18, 2014. (PCP) Today on September 17, 2014 was court hearing of blasphemy case of Zafar Bhatti in the Session’s Court Rawalpindi. The case is under trial since 6 months and the Session Judge go to the jail to conduct jail trial on every hearing because of the life safety of Zaffar Bhatti. The judge is changed and has been appointed a new Judge Mr. Mohammad Iqbal Additional Session Judge to hear the case of Zafar Bhatti. It was the first day of the new judge in the court hearing. Mr. Joseph Francis National Director CLAAS was present in the court in Rawalpindi along with his legal team Mr. Tahir Bashir advocate High Court and legal advisor CLAAS and Hunny Bashir from legal department but the case was not heard because the co- accuse of the case FIR Ghazala Khan was not present in the court. It was the second hearing that she was absent therefore the judge ordered to issue arrest warrant of Ghazala Khan and bound to the police to bring her to the court for any cost on the next court hearing September 26, 2014. Zaffar Bhatti was falsely implicated in Blasphemy case through a registered case FIR No. 526 on July 11, 2012 offence under section 295-C of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) and 25D of the Telegraph Act 1885 in the police station New Town, Rawalpindi. An Act to amend the law relating to Telegraphs in Pakistan 25D. Penalty for causing annoyance, etc. – “Any person, including a telegraph officer, who uses any telephone, public or private, for causing annoyance or intimidation to any person, whether a subscriber or not, or for obnoxious calls shall, without prejudice to any other action which the telegraph authority is competent to take under this Act, be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both. When the police investigate the matter and obviously followed the SIM identity which was registered On Ghazala Khan’s name. On August 29, 2012 a summon/order from the office of the Superintendent of Police Rawal Division, Rawalpindi with reference No. 128-RSP offence under section 160 of the Criminal Procedure Code (Cr.P.C) was issued to Sub-Inspector Amanat Ali (Investigation Officer). According to the order the Sub-Inspector was advised to present Ms. Ghazala Kahn on September 03, 2012 at about 10:00 am and joined the investigation in the blasphemy case FIR No. 626 offence under section 295-C & 25D of Telegraph Act. The religious extremist and complainant Maulana (prayer leader) Ibrar Ahmed, Secretary General Ehle-Sunnat Jamiat Pakistan, Rawalpindi Division alleged in the blasphemy case FIR that he has received blasphemous SMS messages against the respect of the Mother of Muhammad Holy Prophet and against the respect of Holy Personage etc from the SIM number registered in the Ms. Ghazala Khan. The arrest of Pastor Zafar Bhatti and protective bail of victim Ghazala Khan “Their only purpose was to prohibit and enforced Ghazala to away from the legal proceedings of an old case of property in which she was petitioner and illegally filed a blasphemy case FIR. The police did not nominate anyone in the blasphemy case FIR but only mentioned the cell number which was registered Ghazala’s name. Whereas, Zafar Bhatti was illegally arrested by the concerned police and later was sent to Adyala Jail, Rawalpindi.” “Whereas on November 16, 2012 Ghazala Khan filled a bail application before the honorable Lahore High Court and the bail application was accepted on the same day. The honorable Mr. Justice Muhammad Anwaarul Haq, Judge Lahore High Court, Lahore granted me protective bail and fixed the next court hearing till November 23, 2012 and she was bound to furnish bail bond in the sum of Rs. 100.000/- (USD1041 approximately) for the satisfaction of the court.” Vulnerability of victim Ghazala Khan Ghazala Khan was worried about Zafar Bhatti because he was innocent but arrested while helping her out from the unjustified litigations. The accused and his accompanying assailants wanted to grab the property which is situated on the prime location and has worth in millions of rupees. She made requests applications before the police authorities against the opponent and others and requested that who will be responsible if she is murdered or involved in any other case but there was no answer. CLAAS’s Contribution On November 12, 2012 CLAAS filed post arrest bail of Zafar through Mr. Malik Asif Tauseeq Awan, Advocate High Court (Legal Advisor CLAAS). Later on keeping in view the present situation of the country after the release of blasphemous film in the US and on November 15, 2012 the bail application was withdrawn. Afterwards, the CLAAS office helped Ms. Ghazala Khan in legal proceedings and at first arranged surety bonds for the satisfaction of the honorable court. Secondly, the CLAAS through Mr. Malik Asif Tauseeq Awan, Advocate High Court (Legal Advisor CLAAS) filed pre-arrest bail of Ghazala Khan which was granted. The post arrest bail application of Zafar Bhatti was again filed but later it was withdrawn because the case trial was started. Then CLAAS lawyer filed an application in the court with a request that Zaffar Bhatti’s life was in danger if he comes to the court for the case trial therefore the court should order to conduct trial in Jail. The next court hearing of Zaffar Bhatti case is fixed for September 26, 2014. CLAAS is providing food for the month to Zaffar Bhatti’s family and financial support to fulfill their other needs and to pay their house rent in Rawalpindi.