ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Interfaith League (PIL) organised a press conference on Monday demanding a speedy trial of the Kot Radha Kishan incident. Relatives of the murdered couple were also present at the press conference.

Chairman PIL, Sajid Ishaq, condemned the killing in Kot Radha Kishan on November 4 where a Christian couple, Sajjad and Shama Masih, were beaten and then burnt alive in a brick kiln by a mob accusing them of blasphemy.

The chairman demanded the Chief Justice of Pakistan to take suo motu action in this case so that speedy trial of the incident may be carried out and exemplary punishment is given to the culprits.

He added that if the perpetrators of previous incidents of religious extremism such as Gojra, Kasur, Joseph Colony and the blasphemy case against minor Rimsha Masih had been held accountable, no one would have dared to commit such a crime again.

Sajid Ishaq said this was a test case for the government as the government itself is the complainant in this case.

“A fair and just trial and judgment would be a clear indication to religious minorities of the seriousness of the government to provide equal rights, justice and protection as professed by them on many occasions,” he said.

He also called for the formation of a Joint Inquiry Committee which should include retired Justice Kazi Waheed Siddiqui, who was the former Justice of the Federal Shariat Court and one Christian religious cleric so that the findings may be made transparent.

Executive Director I-LAP, Nazia Ansari said the government should take concrete steps to prevent such incidents.

Transgressors of law do so with impunity and are further encouraged when they are evicted without any penalty, she said.

Sajjad’s brothers said the government had offered them land and money as compensation for the murders of their brother, sister-in-law and their unborn nephew but they suspect the intention behind this offer.

They demanded justice for the departed souls of their brother and his family which is only possible through an in-depth investigation of the incident, trial and punishment of culprits.

Published in Dawn, November 18th, 2014