Case over girl accused of blasphemy adjourned to Sept 1

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Tahir Naveed Chaudhry, the lawyer of a Christian girl accused of blasphemy, talks to media after a court hearing in Islamabad, Pakistan on Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2012. — Photo by AP

ISLAMABAD: A local court in Islamabad heard the case pertaining to a girl who had been accused of blasphemy adjourned the hearing to Sept 1, DawnNews reported.

The case was heard in the court of district and sessions judge Islamabad Justice Jawad Abbas.

The court issued notices to the state and the complainant over the bail application.

The complainant's lawyer said that the legal procedure was not being followed in the girl's case who he said was being tried under the Juvenile Justice System Ordinance (2000).

The complainant's lawyer objected to the girl's medical test saying that it was carried out before the court could have ordered one.

The lawyer for the girl disagreed and said that the test was conducted by a panel of eminent doctors.

The court subsequently adjourned the hearing to Sept 1.

A large number of people belonging to the Christian community,civil society and international media were present at the court's premises.

Strict security measures were also employed on the occasion.

The girl belonging to the Christian community who is said to be suffering from Down's Syndrome has been held since Aug 16 under the strict blasphemy laws, prompting concern from Western governments, the Vatican and rights groups.

On Monday, she was taken from prison to a hospital for tests to determine how old she was, a senior doctor told AFP, after conflicting reports about her age.

The medics’ report said that based on factors including her height, build and teeth, the girl appeared to be “approximately 14 years”, and gave details of her apparent mental abilities.

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