TOBA TEK SINGH, July 13: A blasphemy case accused was handed down life term and a Rs200,000 fine here on Saturday by an additional district and sessions court.

Judge Mian Shahzad Raza heard the case in the district jail for several weeks where the convict had been lodged by Gojra city police since his arrest in December 2011.

Convict Sajjad Masih of Pakpattan had been charged with sending blasphemous SMSs through his mobile phone to ulema and a number of prominent people of Gojra.

Sajjad Masih was engaged to his relative Ruma Masih of Gojra Christian Colony, but she cancelled the engagement and contracted marriage with a youth residing in the UK.

The convict had with him a mobile phone SIM belonging to Ruma and from that SIM he had sent blasphemous texts to teach her a lesson.

The case was initially registered under Section 25-B of the Telegraph Act and Section 16 of the MPO on Dec 18 in 2011 and during investigation when it was confirmed that accused Sajjad Masih of Pakpattan had sent texts, city police added Section 295C to the FIR.

Later, on the demand of ulema from Gojra, the name of Ruma Masih was also included in the FIR as an accused. On the request of the Toba district police officer, the interior ministry had issued red warrants for the arrest of Ruma from the UK through Interpol but she could not be arrested and brought to Pakistan. She was later declared a proclaimed offender.

INJURED: Seven people were injured seriously on Saturday in a dispute during a wrestling competition held in Chak 667/8-GB.

According to the police, supporters of winner Muhammad Asif and defeated player Muhammad Abid attacked each other with sharp-edged weapons as a result Asif group’s four and Abid group’s three people were wounded.

One of the wounded Muhammad Azam was referred to Toba DHQ Hospital in a critical condition while all others were admitted to Pirmahal THQ Hospital. — Correspondent