SHEIKHUPURA, Pakistan — In a rare instance in Pakistan, a judge granted bail to a pastor accused of blaspheming Islam because the complainant admitted that he had mistakenly accused him, attorneys said.
Karma Patras, a 55-year-old pastor of Bado Malhi, Sangla Hill, had been languishing in Sheikhupura District Jail since October 2012 after preaching on Christ’s sacrifice at a funeral Oct. 13 attended mainly by Christians. Some Muslims present thought he was speaking against the Islamic animal slaughter ritual observed at the time. Patras was confused when police showed up at his home later that day and arrested him on charges of defaming Islam.
Victims of false accusations of blasphemy in Pakistan usually spend months in jail without trial, and then many more months after conviction. If charges are dismissed it does not usually happen until cases reach appeal, as most trial judges cannot withstand the pressure of furious Islamic extremists. Retraction of an accusation also is rare in Pakistan.
“Patras’ release is the rarest instance of a complainant in a blasphemy case retracting his statement,” one attorney said. Pakistan is nearly 96 percent Muslim, according to Operation World. Christians make up 2.45 percent of the population.
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