Gladys Walter, the wife of Walter Fazal Khan, passed away on Wednesday morning at Sheikh Zayed Hospital. Mr Khan was arrested for allegedly desecrating the pages of the Holy Quran. The accused, who was granted bail by the Sessions Judge on May 29, could not meet his wife and also did not know that how she embraced Islam. The deceased, 84, converted to Islam from Christianity on May 9, the same day when Mr Khan was accused of blasphemy allegedly over the plan to grab property.
The case has taken a legal twist as a civil suit was already in the court regarding Mr khanÂ’s Rs 1.24 million property. The suit was filed by one Raja Riaz. Riaz had filed the case on behalf of WalterÂ’s wife. Riaz said he was looking after WalterÂ’s wife. He said GladysÂ’s funeral and burial held at the Miani Sahib graveyard.
| Mr Khan doubted his wifeÂ’s embracing Islam. He told Daily Times that she was in comma and was unable to speak. Riaz claimed she embraced Islam in the presence of a number of locals and policemen. He said Qari Saifullah, the Imam of a nearby mosque, was also present on the occasion. |
Mr Khan doubted his wifeÂ’s embracing Islam. He told Daily Times that how could one know that his wife embraced Islam. He said she was in comma and was unable to speak. Riaz claimed she embraced Islam in the presence of a number of locals and policemen. He said Qari Saifullah, the Imam of a nearby mosque, was also present on the occasion.
Mr Khan alleged that the police had done nothing to probe the matter even after the court’s directions that the allegations were doubtful. The police officer concerned said, “We are investigating and it will take some time.”
Additional Sessions Judge, Lahore, Abid Hussain Qureshi on May 29 granted bail to 79-year-old Walter Fazal Khan considering that there was no direct evidence against him. The court also ordered further inquiry to identify the actual culprit/s. On May 9, Walter was taking bath in the morning when the complainant, Raja Riaz, knocked at his door. Walter opened the door. Riaz told him that something had burnt in the house. They found a burnt book in the drawing room that later was confirmed as the Holy Quran. Raja Riaz, who was also living in the same house, called local clerics. Later the police came and a case under Section 295-B of the PPC was lodged against Mr Khan.
Dozens of traders, including the chairman and president of the Samanabad tradersÂ’ union-Qaumi Tajir Ittehad and a number of locals also went to the Superintendent of Police (Investigation) and submitted in writing that the people were emotionally charged and provoked at the time of the blasphemy and later they realized the situation. |