A Pakistani pastor imprisoned and since July 2012 over sending blasphemous text messages has had his hearing adjourned for the seventh time.
Pastor Zafar Bhatti, 56, was sentenced to life imprisonment for blasphemy, a charge he denies.
His most recent appeal hearing was reportedly postponed because the presiding judge was due to go on holiday.
A statement from the British Pakistani Christian Association (BPCA) said in a statement sent to Premier: “The case was moving favourably in the direction of Zafar but Justice Raja Shahid Mahmood Abbasi sought a postponement as he would not have time to complete paperwork before existing travel plans.
“Despite the fervent remonstrations by Advocate Tahir Bashir for a decision to be made to release Pastor Zafar the judge said such a decision could not be made as he was off on holiday and had booked flights."
The court has set 12th September 2019 for the new appeal date for Pastor Zafar.
The pastor founded and led a small NGO called Jesus World Mission to assist the poor.
A local Islamic leader filed a complaint at a police station in Rawalpindi and claimed the pastor had been sent messages from an unregistered number insulting the Muslim Prophet Mohammed and his mother. [Premier] Read more
