News Desk
Bahawalpur:
A 17-year-old Christian girl was abducted and gang-raped for 10 days in Hasilpur, Bahawalpur District, Punjab Province, according to her father, Taj Masih. The abduction took place on August 25, and while police have arrested one suspect, most remain free. The family has also received threats to drop the charges, Masih said.
The girl, whose identity has been withheld, was taken from her home while her father was at work and her mother was at a dispensary. Masih, a 45-year-old Catholic laborer, said he and his wife immediately began searching for their daughter. They later learned from village elders that she had been kidnapped by local residents Muhammad Asif, Nazeer Ahmad, Muhammad Yasir, Muhammad Aslam, and Nazia Asif.
Masih initially sought help from the village elders, who confronted the accused. They admitted to taking the girl and promised her return, but after repeated delays, Masih filed a police complaint. On September 5, police found the girl, who reported being gang-raped by Muhammad Yasir and Muhammad Saif. A medical examination confirmed she had been tortured and repeatedly raped.
While Saif has been arrested, the other suspects remain at large, and Masih says he continues to receive threats. “They are threatening me to drop the case or face the consequences, but I won’t back down,” he said. Despite the threats and the slow police response, Masih remains determined to seek justice for his daughter.
Masih highlighted the difficulties faced by Pakistan’s Christian minority in accessing justice, citing both religious discrimination and his poverty as barriers. “We are often discriminated against due to our religion, but I was not expecting the police to treat this case with such indifference,” he said.
The family’s lawyer, Lazar Allah Rakha, noted that the case highlights the challenges minority communities in Pakistan face in obtaining justice. Despite substantial evidence, including medical and DNA tests, police have been slow to act. “It is the responsibility of the state to ensure that all citizens have instant and inexpensive access to justice,” Rakha said, urging the government to address the inequalities faced by minorities.
Sharon Shamir who is Coordinator of human rights organization HFO, underscores deep concern, over this unfortunate incident.
In her statement, she strongly condemns, the rising number of rape cases, particularly involving minors from vulnerable minority communities in Pakistan.
“We are committed to being the voice for the voiceless, seeking justice through legal representation” maintains Sharon