Just to remind that the work which CLAAS doing is the commitment with the God to provide assistance to the persecuted, needy and poor Christians in Pakistan. We are honestly doing our job and CLAAS means to help persecuted without hesitation, to give assistance without expectation and to love community without limitations. We just trying to help or assist people as much as we can but, it is their own will if they want to go to other groups to ask help for their own satisfaction, as we cannot bind them to stay with CLAAS but when they again need help, they are welcomed to CLAAS.
Pakistani so called Christian organizations says that CLAAS use to do photo sessions of people, yes we do for our records. I would like to ask that is there any NGO who do not make photos?
In Zafar Bhatti case the family was mislead twice by few groups in Rawalpindi and after two three months they were again back to CLAAS and requested for financial support and assistance in the legal case of Zafar Bhatti. CLAAS did not denied and again providing food items, financial support monthly and the legal case of Zafar Bhatti.
CLAAS receive thanks letters from Zafar Bhatti he wrote from the prison and also taking care of his medicine and other basic need in the prison. CLAAS legal team and Mr. Joseph Francis personally going to attend court hearings of Zafar case regularly, as the case trial is in prison. After the attack on M. Asghar in Adiala Jail Rawalpindi, Basharat Khokher and Khalid Shehzad mislead the family and sent wrong report of Zafar Bhatti’s murder on international media. They also disturb the family to make them upset and confused by giving them the news of Zafar Bhatti’s killing and ask them to go to the hospitals to see him in the dead houses. They did not only disturbed an old age wife of Zafar Bhatti and also misreported the international media reporter in Islamabad which the news reporter has to rewrite and make correction in the report after taking the correct facts from CLAAS and Nawab Bibi that Zafar Bhatti was alive.
Anyhow CLAAS is not answerable to the people like Khalid Shahzad who has bad politics and reporting that CLAAS is misleading families and use to do photo sessions with the families but there is only GOD we need to be afraid. We trust in God and believe that CLAAS is working in Pakistan just because the God’s will. The new arising Christian NGO’s doing work without vision and afraid from the firmed organization like CLAAS as they cannot get funds from the funding organizations without creating between donors for CLAAS.
If they work for good purpose, which is to provide justice and secure future to the suffering Christian brothers and sisters and assist them in their legal problems, why they highjack the victim’s families. Why they misreport on international and national media, why they using bad policies for the legs pulling of each others. They should sit down together and to clear the misunderstandings if they have any and to guide each other if someone is on mistake because we all are doing work on the same agenda to help people.
It is worth mentioned here that who is Basharat Khokher? A police constable in Islamabad Region Police. A member of APMA; he met CLAAS Director Joseph Francis during the case of Rimsha Bibi victim of blasphemy as he pretended a dispute with Khalid Gill of APMA and Paul Bhatti, APMA leader and brother of Shahbaz Bhatti (late) Minority Minister assassinated by an extremists group. Basharat Gill along with Paul Bhatti worked in Rimsha case but after her release he asked Mr. Bhatti to arrange his visa to Canada but remained fail. Then he asked Mr. Joseph Francis to get visa through any embassy in Islamabad as Mr. Francis asked Basharat that it is not easy to get visa for Canada, America or Europe. But he has been insisting Mr. Francis to help in getting visa from any embassy as Mr. Francis has good relations in foreign embassies in Islamabad. There is nothing than blackmailing Basharat Khokher doing with CLAAS and also Shamim Masih so called Christian journalist who also blackmailer.
Basharat claimed in the report published on “Global Christians Voice” That CLAAS do nothing with Zafar Bhatti case as Pervaiz Khan Advocate in Rawalpindi is his lawyer and they can prove with record/documents. We want to say very clearly that Mr. Tahir Bashir CLAAS Lawyer is Zafar Bhatti’s lawyer and attending every court hearing as Pervaiz Khan is Ghazala’s irregular lawyer (she is co accuse in blasphemy case with Zafar). Ghazala is on bail and she required to the court on each hearing but since last 3 hearings she was absent and on September 25, 2014 the learned Judge has issued arrest warrant against her and ordered the SHO to arrest her present in the court on the next hearing on October 01, 2014. Mr. Joseph Francis National Director CLAAS would be present in the court along with legal team.
CLAAS is providing free legal aid to Zafar Bhatti, monthly food and financial support to his family.
Today CLAAS arrange special visit of Nawab Bibi with Zafar Bhatti at Adiala Jail through one colleague from British High Commission Islamabad. Nawab Bibi was happy and satisfied to see Zafar Bhatti alive and thankful to CLAAS for arranging her special visit with Zafar Bhatti.
Gazal Khan Co-accused of Zafar Bhatti Blasphemy Case Reaches To LEAD For Legal Assistance
A blasphemy convict,named Asghar Ali,who is with a history of mental illness, was wounded by shooting at of a policeman in the Adiala jail on Thursday where this man is on death row for blasphemy.The policeman claimed 'divine visitations' for the guidance to put his life on line for the sake of his religious beliefs. He told to the Police that he was sure that the man would be set free and wanted to kill him to punish properly. The wounded blasphemy death convicted is admitted in a local hospital and now reportedly in stable condition.
In the same jail, there is also under judicial custody a Christian Pastor Zafar Bhatti who is also blasphemy accused and whose jail trial is under proceedings from the last few months, unfortunately news spread in media about him too that he was killed in the same incident but latter it was reportedly confirmed that he was safe.
Gazal Khan who is also co-accused with Mr. Bhatti's blasphemy case today came to the Christian Lawyer, Mr. Sardar Mushtaq Gill,Human Rights Defender, Chief of LEAD and she asked about the Adiala Jail incident which she came to know through media.
Mr. Gill got confirmed through phone call from Mr. Khuram Mann(Advocate)who was earlier appearing in Mr. Bhatti's case, he told that he had confirmed on phone from his sister and wife about the news of killing of Mr. Bhatti and they told that he was safe and incident was not happened with him. Mr. Mann further told that there is no organization which is representing this case now.
Ms. Gazala told that she was on bail and did not know the next date of hearing of the trial. She further added that she herself engaged and hired one Muslim lawyer for her bail and now for trial too and there was and is not any Christian organization who was and is representing her case including Mr. Bhatti. Mr. Gill asked her why in report published by one Christian organization that they are following Mr. Bhatti 's case .She told that she did not know why such claims came in media but it is fact and true that only Mr. Pervaiz Khan(Advocate from Rawalpindi) and one other his colleague are representing our case. She also told that Rawalpindi Bar barred lawyers to represent our case.
Then she also requested and told to Mr. Gill for legal assistance in her case and for transferring the case from Rawalpindi to Lahore as it is difficult for her to afford to go Lahore to Rawalpindi on every date of hearing because she was and is bearing all expenses herself and now she is terrified due to the Adiala Jail incident.
"My case is totally fake and false and during investigation it was proved that I did not use the mobile sim-card which identity on my profile and also there is no data and mobile including in the evidence. So in this way my case will be quashed and no fear of sentence", she told.
She further added that the court wished to quash the FIR to my extent but she wanted that the FIR would be quashed so that they both could be set free from false allegation. She told that she knew the law and she read law books but could not be able to win law degree.
Mr. Gill told her frankly that LEAD would not be able to support you financially but for free legal assistance we would fight and follow the case.
Today this morning, Mr.Gill received one phone call from one renowned social and political activist Mr.Khalid Gill,who is now in Canada, he asked about the Adiala jail incident and told that he had engaged lawyer in the case of Mr.Bhatti and Ms.Gazala.He also mentioned the same name which Ms.Gazala told.
Mr. Gill received many calls after the Adiala jail incident from different persons including Mr.Tariq Seraj (Advocate).He also asked what was truth about Zafar Bhatti's murdered in jail’s there any possibility that Government is hiding the killing of Mr. Bhatti or just misunderstanding and misinformation due to attack on another blasphemy death convicted prisoner.
"We are much concerned about such incidents as happened in The Adiala jail and in the incidents of extrajudicial killings of blasphemy accused and their lawyers," shared Advocate Sardar Mushtaq Gill.
He further added that the lawyer who challenges the wordings of FIR and try to negate that wordings in blasphemy cases, on this the prosecution lawyers start to feel anger and humiliate the defense lawyer and if the controversial thoughts further heated up between them.The defense lawyer gets death threats and sometime killing as happened in mostly cases.Some defense lawyers in blasphemy cases just fulfill formality of law and do not take risk to challenge the version of FIR and put all things on the Judge because they think that if the trial court gives punished then in appeal the accused might be released. In this way they avoid to take risk but this is not fair with client and victim.
Prayer Request By Chief of LEAD, Advocate Sardar Mushtaq Gill to all National and National Churches and Ministries to pray for wisdom ,courage and safety for his team and for all victims of blasphemy who are suffering in jails due to faith and you all know every day, believers around the world risk banishment, beatings, imprisonment and death to follow Christ and take His Gospel farther. Perseverance often seems impossible, but when the Lord enables believers to stand strong, He works mightily through their sufferings.
CLAAS has nothing to do with Zafar Bhatti case, says Basharat Khokhar
Rawalpindi: (Shamim Masih) – Centre for Legal Aid Assistance & Settlement – CLAAS has nothing to do with Zafar Bhatti case, said Basharat Khokhar and Khalid Shahzad. CLAAS chief had photo session with his family but had done nothing to save his skin.
According to the details, since the incident of Asghar Ali victim of blasphemy case was shot by the police constable within the premises of Central Jail Adayla Rawalpindi; CLAAS reported about this case and claimed that the said organization is dealing with Zafar Bhatti’s case; blasphemy accused is safe in Adayla Jail. But Basharat Khokhar and Khalid Shahzad, social activists rejected CLAAS and said that CLAAS is no more with Zafar Bhatti’s case. Basharat told that CLAAS chief went to his family and had photo session but is not dealing with his case. He claimed that his lawyer Parvaiz Khan is his attorney and dealing actually with his case.
Khalid Shahzad social activist said that CLAAS is habitual in misleading the people, this organization is not doing anything on the ground. CLAAS is neither dealing with Sawan Masih nor Asia bibi case but claiming unfairly about the both cases. He said CLAAS is wasting funds paying bribe and in other activities but not doing anything for the good of Christians in the country. During Sawan Masih case, CLAAS chief took pictures with Sawan and his family using unfair means, he added.
On the hand, Joseph Francis chief of CLAAS said that Tahir Bashir is the attorney to Zafar Bhatti and he is being by CLAAS. He said we can prove with document when required.
Earlier CLAAS reported that Ashar Ali s/o Hakam Dad, Muslim by faith (some people believe that he is Ahmadi by faith) victim of the blasphemy case and FIR was registered at PS Sadiqabad under section 295-C. Asgher Ali was confined in Adayla Jail, Rawapindi shot by a police constable appointed for his security. He was immediately taken to the hospital. He was sentenced to death in January, 2014. Yousaf, police constable was appointed for his security; he shot fire within the jail premises. Asgher Ali reportedly wrote a letter claiming to be a prophet and was arrested in 2010. Religious leadership gave a verdict against him that after the prophet Mohammad no one can claim it so he has not right to live. He was convicted and sentenced to death. The new of attack and murder of Zafar Bhatti victim of 295-C imprisoned in Adiala Jail is not correct Zafar Bhatti is safe only Asghar another blasphemy victim who was sentenced to death in January 2014 was gunshot by police constable of Elite Force.

There were rumours that Zafar Bhatti a Christian victim of blasphemy 295-C and Telegraph Act confined in Adiala Jail was gun down by a police constable. Some of reputed national daily reported the same news which is not true. Christian community across the country is deeply saddened on this incident and urged the authorities to assured the life of blasphemy victims in the different jail of the country. Few years back Salam Taseer (Governor Punjab) was gunned down by his security guard and was garlanded by the religious scholars.
Victim of the blasphemy is punishable to death in Pakistan. Christian right activists in Pakistan have been claiming to revisit this law but certainly there are some right organization pretend but do nothing in practical. Pakistani Christians need education to improve their living standard. Thousands of the children are out of school and drop rate is getting high. This is unfortunate that right activists are wasting their sources and energy in non-productive activities.