GUJRAT: Three members of the family of a Christian, who is alleged to have committed blasphemy, are in the ‘protective custody’ of police.

The Sara-i-Alamgir police dispatched three raiding parties to arrest the suspect who is still at large. Federal minister Senator Kamran Michael on Tuesday asked the local administration and police to hand over the custody of the three members of the suspect’s family — two women and a child to them but it declined.

Nadeem Masih, a resident of Yaqoobabad, has been accused of committing blasphemy and a case registered against him under sections 295-C and 298-A on the report of Yasir Basheer of Majeedabad area.

Sources said Gujrat DCO Liaquat Ali Chattha and acting DPO Kamran Mumtaz assured the federal minister that the family was in safe hands and taken into custody to avert possible wrath of people.

Meanwhile, a heavy contingent of the reserve police remained deployed in the town for the second consecutive day especially in and around the churches and the area where Christians reside.

An official claimed that there were telephone calls and visits by the representatives of some non-government organisations (NGOs) based in Lahore and Islamabad who were desirous of taking the family members along with them but their wish was not entertained.

The authorities also did not allow two minority members of the Punjab Assembly to visit Sara-i-Alamgir Town’s locality where Christian families reside.

An official said two women including the wife of suspect’s brother, and a child were in the protective custody. The suspect’s brother is also said to have fled the town.

Published in Dawn, July 13th, 2016