Man jailed for blasphemy dies in prison

Karachi, Pakistan (AP):

A Pakistani Christian jailed for blasphemy has died in prison and his lawyer said yesterday he suspected the man had been murdered.

Regional prison chief Ghulam Qadir Thebo said the prison doctor believed Qumar David, 50, died of a heart attack on Tuesday in Karachi Central Jail after complaining of chest pain. An autopsy is due to be carried out on the body in the presence of his family members.

Two prominent Pakistani politicians have been murdered this year for their campaign to change blasphemy laws that make it a capital offence to insult Islam. Critics say the laws are widely misused to persecute Christians or settle scores in the mostly Muslim country.

Human rights groups say Christians convicted under the law have been murdered by extremists.

David's lawyer Pervez Chaudhry says he is "100 per cent" certain it was murder but was unable to offer evidence. Chaudhry said both he and David had received death threats during the trial in 2010.

David was serving a 25-year prison term for blasphemy.