Karachi case: Blasphemy accused on judicial remand

KARACHI: The family of 33-year-old man, who has been accused of blasphemy, wants him to be strictly punished for his ‘actions’. *W, the alleged blasphemer, has been accused of desecrating the Holy Quran, and family members claimed he had been involved in similar incidents earlier as well. Though most blasphemy cases are registered by neighbours or co-workers, in this particular incident, *W was brought to a Karachi police station by his uncle who is adamant that the person be punished. “He has insulted our religion and anyone doing that should be sternly dealt with,” Qalandar Buksh, the complainant and the uncle of the accused said. According to the family, it was on Friday afternoon that the accused, *W, an unmarried labourer committed the crime at his home in Buffer Zone. A case under section 295-B has been registered at the police station. If the accused is found guilty by the court, he can be sentenced to life imprisonment. Family members of the accused clarified that *W is mentally stable, but recounted similar incidents in the past. Meanwhile, the Station House Officer of the Taimuria Police Station, Sub Inspector Fayyaz told The Express Tribune that the accused had been seeking forgiveness. The police officer ruled out personal enmity or property issues behind the incident. On Saturday, *W was produced in the court and a magistrate has sent him on a judicial remand to the Karachi Central Jail till October 22.