Punjab, manhunt for Christian accused of blasphemy

James Nadeem, a resident in the Father Colony Gujrat district. The man accused of writing insults against Islam on social networks. Then he fled to save his life. His sisters arrested to induce him to surrender.

Lahore (AsiaNews) - Punjab police are searching for a Christian man accused of writing insults against Islam and the Prophet Muhammad on social media. The man, a resident of the Father Colony in the city of Sraey Alamgir (Gujrat district), has fled for fear of being killed by Muslims.

James Nadeem, a Christian, wrote the offensive remarks about the Prophet and sent them to a friend via the WhatsApp messaging service. Fearing for his life, he disappeared without trace.

According to the Pakistan Christian Post, the local police arrested and abused the sisters of James, to push the man to surrender to authorities. The newspaper also reports that Islamic clerics in the mosques are instigating believers to burn the houses of the Christians of the Father Colony, in the event that the accused is not caught.

The religious leaders' call is reminiscent of other episodes of violence perpetrated against Christians in Gujrat district. Last year the whole community took to the streets to demonstrate in defense of four faithful locked up in prison on charges of blasphemy. According to experts, in Pakistan suspicion of violating the "black law" it is often misused to target religious minorities and for personal vendettas.