STORY:" Imam denies tampering with evidence in Pakistan Blasphemy case," published by CTV News on September 2, 2012.

GIST: "Police in Pakistan have arrested a Muslim cleric who allegedly tampered with evidence linked to a Christian girl accused of vandalizing a Qur’an, in a case that has shone a spotlight on the country’s blasphemy laws. The case of the Christian girl accused of burning pages of the Muslim holy book has ignited furor both in Pakistan and abroad, partly because of her age but also because of questions about her mental capacity. The case has also triggered the exodus of hundreds of Christians from the girl’s neighbourhood, as residents flee fearing possible retribution by their Muslim neighours. The cleric, Khalid Chishti, was apprehended Saturday for allegedly planting pages of a Qur’an in a shopping bag containing burned papers and ash. The bag belonged to the Christian girl and was later submitted as evidence, said investigating officer Munir Jaffery. The arrest comes after a member of the mosque where the cleric works came forward Saturday and said the imam had placed the pages of the Quran in the bag. According to police, the man claimed cleric Chishti said the evidence was a way to get rid of Christians. The new testimony surfaced more than two weeks after the Christian girl was arrested, raising questions about why the man did not come forward sooner with the critical information. The girl was accused of desecrating the Qur’an, a serious offence that can result in a sentence of life in prison."

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