Police in Pakistan have arrested an imam on suspicion of planting evidence in the blasphemy case where Christian girl Rimsha Masih stands accused of burning the Quran.
The cleric, Khalid Chishti, was arrested on Saturday after a member of his mosque claimed Chishti had planted pages of the Quran in a bag full of burnt papers that 14-year-old Rimsha had been carrying.
There have been international concerns over the young girl's mental capacity and doctors have investigated whether she may have Down's syndrome as initial reports claimed.
Chishti arrived at court on Sunday blindfolded and wearing shackles on his hands.
Chishti arrives at court
“I have not done anything wrong. This is all fabrication,” he said.
Rimsha is currently in custody and could face life imprisonment under Pakistan's strict blasphemy laws.
Chishti is accused of planting pages of the Quran in a bag that Rimsha was carrying
The incident is reported to have sparked a mass exodus of the girl's Christian neighbourhood, with some 600 people reported to have fled.
Members of the Christian community have also spoken out against her arrest: "Rimsha has been sent to jail without any proof. We demand this law should be repealed, people are misusing it. And Rimsha should be released immediately," Bishop Arshad Khokhar said, according to al-Jazeera.