BAHAWALPUR Feb 2: A sessions court handed down death sentence along with a Rs0.2 million fine to a man of Jalalpur Peerwala for committing blasphemy. The challan of accused Rafiq was submitted to the court of the additional district and sessions judge, Ahmedpur East, Malik Riaz Ahmed Khokhar, under Blasphemy Act's sections 295-C and 298-A.

The case against the accused was registered with Ahmedpur East city police station under FIR No 84/10 on Feb 17, 2010.

According to concerned DSP Chaudhry Muhammad Safdar, the accused was handed over to the police by shopkeepers after they reportedly caught him with a wooden slab hanging around his neck inscribed with blasphemous remarks against Sihaba, the companions of the Holy Prophet (Peace be upon him).

Mr Safdar told Dawn by telephone on Wednesday that after his arrest the accused 'feigned' to be mentally retarded and was immediately shifted to jail to protect him from the wrath of the mob which had converged at the scene.

He added since his arrest the accused had been seeking a pardon. AIOU: A computer and internet centre set up by Allama Iqbal Open University was opened in the children's section of the Central Library here on Wednesday.