{"id":24,"date":"2021-06-03T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-06-02T23:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.britishasianchristians.org\/full-previous-archive\/2021\/06\/03\/judicial-farce-murderers-of-christian-man-regularly-fail-to-attend-pakistani-court-and-judge-simply-postpones-hearings\/"},"modified":"2023-04-30T05:23:03","modified_gmt":"2023-04-30T04:23:03","slug":"judicial-farce-murderers-of-christian-man-regularly-fail-to-attend-pakistani-court-and-judge-simply-postpones-hearings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.britishasianchristians.org\/full-previous-archive\/judicial-farce-murderers-of-christian-man-regularly-fail-to-attend-pakistani-court-and-judge-simply-postpones-hearings\/","title":{"rendered":"Judicial farce: Murderers of Christian man regularly fail to attend Pakistani court and judge simply postpones hearings"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ghafoor Masih and his wife fight for justice.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Saleem Masih (22 yrs) was beaten to death for rinsing himself off in the tube well of Muslim land owners in Choonia District, Kasur. It should be noted
\n that many Muslim men have been permitted to rinse themselves off in the well for many years, however it was the fact that a \u2018ritually unclean\u2019 Christian
\n dared to use the well in this fashion that led to his murder. Read more (here)
<\/a><\/strong>
\n
British Asian Christian Association have been paying for a solicitor to help Ghafoor Masih (56 years) father of Saleem Masih get justice. But have
\n been facing intolerable delays (well in any other country) due to an intentionally fudged police investigation.  Police failed to charge the two
\n murderers who have already admitted to have killed Saleem Masih, but claim it was because he stole some turmeric and potatoes (as if this was a justified
\n defence). Moreover, police, judges and the defendents have been failing to turn up to court causing unecessary postonements.<\/p>\n

On 8th April 2021, arguments were partially heard from both parties and the court was adjourned for 10th April.<\/p>\n

On 10th April, Honorable Additional Sessions Judge, for District Court Chunian, Miss Aysha Khalid heard the arguments from both sets of solicitors.
\n At the end of the session she ordered the inclusion of Shera Dogar and Ali (the murderers) in the investigation.<\/p>\n

The order of the court narrates as follows:<\/p>\n

\u201cThe involvement of the accused persons shall be determined in a fair trial and on the basis of a preliminary inquiry, there is sufficient material to proceed this matter further.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The court had summoned Shera Dogar and Ali, the two accused of the murder of Saleem Masih, to court for 26th April.<\/p>\n

Sumaira Hussain further explained, she said:<\/p>\n

“The police investigation was mala fide (in bad faith) and I requested for the court to examine it.<\/span><\/p>\n

“My argument was supported by the statement of Ghafoor Masih and the Honorable Judge was satisfied.” <\/span><\/p>\n

It is believed that the summons issued to the names of Shera Dogar and Ali Shehzad has created greater impetus towards justice.<\/p>\n

On 26th <\/sup>April Shera Dogar and Ali Shehzad did not present themselves before the court. The Judge was annoyed over it and had marked their
\n absence from the court.  A notice was issued demanding that they present themselves before court on the next hearing on 19th<\/sup> May.<\/p>\n

On 19th May the two men again failed to present themselves before court and though Judge Ayesha Khalid was visibly annoyed with the repeated failure
\n to arraive at court, she was willing to continue the pattern of postponements.  However our solicitor argued that continual postponements have
\n caused justice to be delayed in the serious matter of a murder investigation and the judge agreed.<\/p>\n

Now any further failure to attend court at the next hearing on 17th June 2021 will result in an automatic decision against the two murderers meaning
\n that our fight for justice for Ghafoor Masih, in the murder trial for his son Saleem Masih should finally bring a just decision. <\/p>\n

Ghafoor Masih and his family continue to be threatened and bullieed by cohorts of the two accused murderers.  They have been offered bribes to
\n drop the charges which under Pakistan’s very controversial Qisas and Diyat laws would result in the acquittal of the two men under Sharia laws of ‘forgiveness
\n for a price’.  However, Ghafoor and his family have bravely shunned the threats and bribes in order to see justice for their loved deceased son.<\/p>\n