A Pakistani Muslim cleric who allegedly tampered with evidence submitted in the case against a Christian girl accused of desecrating a Koran has appeared in an Islamabad court.
Cleric Khalid Chishti was arrested yesterday for allegedly planting pages of a Koran in a shopping bag containing burned papers and ash that had been carried by the Christian girl.
The bag was then submitted as evidence to the police.
The girl was later accused of desecrating the Koran, a serious offence in Pakistan that can result in life in prison.
Mr Chishti appeared in court with a white blindfold covering his eyes and shackles around his hands.
He was surrounded by a large contingent of police as he was ushered into the courtroom.
A police spokesman said a member of the mosque where the cleric works came forward yesterday and said the imam had placed the evidence in the bag.
According to police, the man claimed Mr Chishti said it was a way to get rid of the Christians.
The man's testimony only surfaced more than two weeks after the girl was originally arrested, raising questions about why he did not come forward sooner.
A lawyer for the girl said her legal team was meeting to discuss what to do and would likely try to have the case thrown out.
