GUJRAT: Police have finally arrested the Christian man who allegedly committed blasphemy at Majeedabad, Sara-i-Alamgir.

Three members of the suspect’s family, who were in the protective custody, were freed and may be handed over to federal minister Kamran Michael.

Read: Blasphemy suspect still at large; family in protective custody

Acting District Police Officer Kamran Mumtaz confirmed the arrest of Nadeem Masih who was sent to Gujrat jail on judicial remand.

Sources told Dawn the suspect, who was booked on blasphemy charges under sections 295 C and 298 A on the report of Yasir Bashir, had been arrested in Lahore after local police made efforts to trace him in Jhelum, Gujranwala and Lahore.

Police had also recovered the mobile phone which Nadeem used for messaging and the initial inquiry revealed that he downloaded a blasphemous message from a Facebook page which was being operated from India. Gujrat SP Investigation Kamran Mumtaz (who is currently serving as the acting DPO) is formally investigating the case.

Police said they had set free the two women and the child and they were handed over to some elected representatives of the area.

Federal minister Kamran Michael on Wednesday again approached the local authorities to seek the custody of the family.

Published in Dawn, July 14th, 2016