Hindu man arrested over alleged blasphemy in Pakistan

Islamabad:  A 35-year-old Hindu man in Pakistan has been arrested for allegedly sending blasphemous contents through WhatsApp.

Prakash Kumar, a shop owner, was arrested on Wednesday in Hub area of Lasbela district in south-western province of Balochistan. Senior Superintendent of Police Lasbela Zia Mandokhel confirmed the arrest after a compliant was registered by the local people against him. “Police registered a case and started a probe after arresting the accused. The cellphone used to send alleged content was also seized,” he said.

A local court has sent the suspect to jail for further interrogation in the case. Kumar owns a shop in Hub where local people also organised a rally in protest against him. The protesters staged a demonstration outside a police station in Hub, demanding the closure of the shop owned by Prakash.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Lasbela Jan Mohammad Khosa and other officials were injured as the protesters hurled stones at them during the demonstration, The Express Tribune reported.

The controversial blasphemy laws were introduced in Pakistan by former military ruler Zia-ul Haq in the 1980s and anyone charged under the laws become an easy target for extremists. The laws have been misused by miscreants and efforts to reform them have failed due to opposition by religious groups.

Former governor Punjab Salman Taseer was killed by his police guard in 2011 for criticising the blasphemy laws. Last month, a university student was killed by fellow students in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province for alleged blasphemy. (PTI)