Lawyer: Cleric cleared in Pakistan blasphemy case
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A Pakistani court on Saturday dismissed charges against a cleric, Khalid Chishti, who accused a young Christian girl of blasphemy and who was arrested last year for allegedly forging evidence against her, his lawyer, Wajid Gilani said, due to insufficient evidence.
The case had brought new spotlight on Pakistan's harsh blasphemy laws, sections of which carry the death penalty or life imprisonment. However, the laws retain broad support in the country, where Islamic conservatism is on the rise alongside extremism. Chishti had accused the young girl of burning pages of Islam's holy book last year. (AP)
