CPJ asks Musharraf to pardon newsman
NEW YORK- The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) criticising the life sentence awarded to a Pakistani journalist Munawar Mohsin in blasphemy case has urged the Pakistan government to pardon him and reform the country’s blasphemy laws.
In an open letter to President General Pervez Musharraf, the CPJ said it was dismayed that Munawar Mohsin, a former sub-editor of the Daily Frontier Post, has been sentenced to life in prison by a court in North West Frontier Province (NWFP) on the charges of blasphemy.
On July 8, 2003 in Peshawar, the sessions court judge convicted Mohsin of blasphemy and sentenced him to life in prison for publishing a letter to the editor titled “Why Muslims Hate Jews,” which included derogatory references to the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH).
However, lawyers and journalists present during the proceedings told CPJ that there was no evidence to support the contention that Mohsin published the offensive letter intentionally, a crucial element in determining criminal culpability.
On the contrary, in testimony given before a magistrate soon after his arrest on January 29, 2001, Mohsin admitted that he had published the letter by mistake, without reading the full text carefully.
CPJ said that it was also worried about the safety of Frontier Post Managing Editor Mahmood Shah Afridi, who was also charged and has gone into hiding.
Judge issued a warrant for Afridi’s arrest for failing to appear before the court to face the charge against him.
Source: Business Recorder
Date:7/12/2003
” 
” 
” 
” 
” 
