Pakistan - Acquittal Of Blasphemy Charges
(24 Feb 1995) T/I: 11:13:32 Militant Islamic leaders called for the death of Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto during demonstrations in Islamabad and Rawalpindi on Friday (24/2). The protests followed the decision by the Lahore high court to dismiss blasphemy charges against two Christians -- one a 14-year old boy. They had been sentenced to death for allegedly insulting Islam, but were acquitted on appeal. There were also demonstrations in Lahore on Friday. There were no reports of arrests or injuries and the demonstration was smaller than many anticipated. On Thursday (23/2), Muslim extremists rioted outside the courthouse as the acquittals were announced, but were dispersed by units of heavily-armed police. Salamat Masih, 14, and his uncle, Rehmat Masih, were accused of charges that they scrawled anti-Islamic graffiti on a mosque wall, a crime that carries a mandatory death penalty in Pakistan. SHOWS: VARIOUS PAKISTAN 23-24/2 RAWALPINDI, PAKISTAN, 24/2 0.00 protesters walking by chanting 0.05 cu of protesters chanting 0.09 protesters around burning pile 0.14 police running pull out to to ws from high viewpoint 0.19 ws scuffles between police and demonstrators 0.23 rear view of demonstraters moving back 0.27 aerial of tear gas going off 0.32 aerial of police running down road LAHORE, 24/2 0.36 aerial ws of mosque in lahore with minaret 0.38 ms of worshippers kneeling to pray 0.41 ms of demonstraters with banner 0.46 ws of police firing tear gas at demonstrators in background 0.53 more of police and demonstrators throwing stones and tear gas 0.59 police advancing along road with shields 1.02 boy throwing stone with tear gas on empty road LAHORE, 23/2 1.06 demonstrators with banners outside courthouse 1.12 ext courthouse 1.15 ms lawyers leaving court 1.18 worshippers outside mosque on road 1.20 people riding by on bike along road 1.25 ends Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: / ap_archive Facebook: / aparchives Instagram: / apnews You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...
