LAHORE: The Burki police has lodged a blasphemy case against a man and his three sons after his wife visited a local mosque to ask for an announcement to be made about the death of a Christian neighbour and the prayer leader alleged the family insulted Islamic laws.

       The incident took place at Khodi Khushal Singh village early on Nov 18 and the first information report (FIR) was registered against the four Muslim men on the complaint of a member of the mosque committee.

       An official said the mosque prayer leader had told the woman that Islam only allows them to make announcements for funeral of Muslims.

       According to the FIR, the woman went back and told her husband about the situation. The husband and his sons got furious, went to the mosque and allegedly argued with the prayer leader.

       The issue went viral on social media where human rights activists condemned the incident, calling it a misuse of blasphemy laws.

       Cantt Division Superintendent of Police Eesa Sukhera said the woman who had visited the mosque and her family members were Muslim. Police had the allegations verified from the locals and others and lodged a case when the matter was brought to the notice of senior police officers.

       He confirmed that Christian residents of the area had nothing to do with the incident.

       There were reports of some Christian residents of the village having shifted with their relatives to other parts of the city in fear.

       Published in Dawn, November 25th, 2021