UCANews: Police in the Jhang district of Punjab province opened a blasphemy case on Sunday against 68 lawyers after they staged a protest last week against a police officer.
The police complaint stated that the protesting lawyers had insulted Caliph Umar bin Khattab – according to Islamic history, a close companion of the Prophet Mohammed – while they were demonstrating outside a district police station.
The protesters were demanding the sacking of Station House Officer Umar Daraz, for illegally detaining and beating one of their colleagues.
Daraz shares the same name as the respected Caliph, and the complainant’s case asserts that the protesters used derogatory language against the Caliph himself.
In response, the District Bar Assocation has announced a three-day strike. More on this here.
