Lahore: Today at about 10:40 PM,there was a shooting incident at the home of Advocate Sardar Mushtaq Gill,a Human Rights Defender and Chief of LEAD. The incident occured when his younger brother and two other friends were standing by the front door of the home of Mr.Gill.
All three men fled the area as the shooters fired straight towards them. Although the intended targets were uninjured a Muslim neighbour was seriously hurt. The shooters fled the scene and there identities and whereabouts are unknown.
A neighbour was shot in the leg.
MrGill called the police who arrived at the scene within 15 minutes. They took statements from the injured victim and the intended targets including Mr.Gill’s brother.
Police arrived at the scene promptly
This is not the first gun attack directed at Mushtaq Gill, and the BPCA condemn the barbaric attempt to silence a leading Human Rights Advocate. It is imperative for justice that the criminals who conducted this vicious attack be apprehended. Too often similar attacks have resulted in no arrest and the resulting impunity felt by assailants, leads to more heinous attacks culminating in murder.
Crowds came to investigate the loud shots and resulting clamour.
Mr.Gill Human Rights Defender who recently has pledged to do all he can to help free Asia Bibi, believes the attack is related to his support for her freedom. On June 24th 2014 his group LEAD filed a petition at the Lahore High Court, for the re-fixation of an earlier hearing of Asia Bibi’s blasphemy law appeal case. The original Appeal case was heard on June 25th 2014. A report received back is proposing to fix the hearing for September 9th 2014.
In November 2010,Asia Bibi,a Christian mother of five,was convicted for blasphemy under section 295 C of the Pakistan Penal Code (PCC). She was sentenced to death and has been languishing in jail for 4 years (arrest and detainment began before court date). She is awaiting her appeal decision which has now been pending in the Lahore High Court for over 6 months. Her appeal hearing has been cancelled five consecutive times. On the last occasion it was postponed as the counsel for the complainant did not turn up. Some quarters believe this was through fear, others have suggested this was due to a bribe.
Learn more about Asia Bibi by (Clicking here)