In a confession the perpetrators of the beating and public nudity of three Christian women have admitted this gross act!

Kasur: Over a month after a Muslim landlord allegedly humiliated three Christian women made naked in front of public in Pattoki, High Court has finally taken notice of the matter and directed District and Session judges of Kasur to investigate the incident and submit a report within two weeks.

The Judge has called both parties into the court and recorded their statements. During the enquiry the Judge scolded and criticised local police who he felt had not performed their duty honestly or dilligently.

The main accused Muhammad Munir gave an affidavit in court and admitted that the three Christian women were beaten, their clothes torn and that they were made publicly naked.  See below a the copy of affidavit:

These are the following contents of affidavit submitted by Muhammad Munir in the Court of District and Session Judge of Kasur, during inquiry of the said case FIR No.231/13 (translation):

"It is stated that, I am Muhammad Munir Sajid son of Abdul Rashid caste Arain ( Muslim by faith), resident of Village Sereser Chak No. 21 Police Station Saddar Pattoki. It states on oath that I am resident of the said address and a farmer by profession. On 31 May 2013 some goats belonging to Shoukat Masih entered and grazed in my crops and destroyed the crops.  I caught the goats and kept them in my haveli (barn) and when Shoukat came to take back his goats, there was trivial fight between us. On 3 June,2013, I submitted one complaint application to the Police station Saddar Pattoki against him, for damage to my crops and the altercation.  Police raided his home around 8 PM and he ran away forcing Police to return back without him.

I state on oath that about 10:30pm, Abrahim and Rafique my uncles along with other accused individuals nominated in the said FIR NO.231/13,came to my house and told me that  Shoukat had fled away, on seeing the police party arriving to his home, but now he may be at home. 

They argued that we should catch him and beat him aftre which, we would hand him over to the Police. I was beguiled by them and we went to Mr.Shoukat's house.  The outer door of his house was locked from the inside. One of the accused Mr.Waqas climbed his wall,  jumped over and entered the house.  He then unlocked the door and all the accused entered inside Shoukat's house, barring me I remained standing outside of the house.

I state on oath that as soon as they entered into the house they started shouting for Shoukat Masih stating they would beat him, to teach him a lesson. They expressed outrage that he dared to confront us landlords.

They started searching for Shoukat but in vain, so they started beating the women in the home and pulled them by their hair.  They dragged them into the local bazaar (Market) and then they tore off their clothes.  The women became naked in front of all the local public. After seeing this scene I fled away from the spot, leaving behind the said accused Abrahim and others.

I state on oath that I did not enter into the house of Mr.Shoukat Masih and did not commit any wrong thing with the Christian women, rather seeing that the accused persons had crossed sensible limits I fled the scene of the crime.

The following above stated contents of the affidavit are correct to my knowledge and I believe that no fact has been concealed.  The affidavit has been written so that it can be presented for proof and it can be used when necessary.Dated 15 June,2013."

Today Advocate Sardar Mushtaq Gill,National Director LEAD along with Ms.Ruhama Shaw(President Women Wing PCC Lahore) met the victim family and consoled them.  Ms.Ruhama financially supported the victim family.LEAD is giving free legal assistance to the Victim family and following the case

Christian Girl abducted, taken to disused hospital and raped, while watched by others.

Face of Humera (rape victim) hidden to protect her.

Rasheed Masih (40 years) a Christian by faith lived in Chak 377 Doctor Wala Vehari, Multan along with his wife and four children, Humera aged (14yrs) (Victim), Samara (13 yrs),  Zeshan aged (11yrs) and Zaman (9 years). They are a deprived Christian family and  both parents work as labourers. Their children including Humera worked with the parents picking on  agricultural land.

On July 13, 2013, Humera was alone in her home; her father and mother and her siblings were at work on the local fields. A cable operator Zubair s/o Abdul Sittar and another boy named Bao visited her home at 6:00 pm and informed her that her father had been involved in an accident.  He told Humera that her father was calling someone from his home to assist him. Humera become anxious when hearing this and agreed to travel with them on a motorcycle, to visit her father in hospital. They took her to Bashir Memorial hospital, far away from her village, which had been closed for the last 10 years. Murtaza another accused perpetrator of this heinous crime was waiting there as he lived near this hospital.

Humera noticed that they had stopped the motorcycle at Bashir Memorial Hospital and immediateley started to scream.  Zubair struck her with some hard blows and  forcibly took her into a room of the hospital, which he locked her inside.  Zubair brandished a gun and warned her not to make any noise on threat of death of Humeera and her family. After two hours the alleged perpetrators returned to the room (around 8:00pm) and led her with them onto the hospital roof there was a foam mattress. According to Humera only one accused Murtaza sexually harassed her, and he later forcibly raped her at gun point on the roof, while the other two men watched and gave her instructions.  

Later they left her in the room on her own, which was unlocked, she was warned not to come out or she would be killed. After 10 minutes she heard some voices from outside the hospital. She took a chance by venturing out of the room and .jumped the wall of the hospital.  She was without her sharwar (trousers), with naked legs which she had never experienced before. There were some Christian’s men from her village who were stood outside the hospital searching for her. When she saw them she started crying; one of them gave her a scarf to cover herself. Her father reached the spot and she described  the entire incident to him. Her father took her to their relatives house in Vehari for her own safety

Shelters for poor in the Capital.

By Shamim Mehmood 

ISLAMABAD: Slum settlements (katchi abadis) in the capital city are deemed a challenge to the local authorities, concerned that they appear vulnerable yet hopeless at finding a lasting solution to this sensitive issue. 

Inhabitants of these dwellings are living miserable lives in the absence of basic necessities such as clean drinking water, sanitation, electricity and gas.

Almost all the slums are situated along seasonal rain drainage systems and suffer horrendous health hazards during rainy season.  These seasonal drains overflow and sometimes take the lives and belongings of victims in one fail swoop.

According to local sources, recently, a young man Salman Masih s/o Ilyas Masih was swept away by flood water near French Colony, F-7/4 and today his dead body was found after two days, near Nullah near Bahria Town. 

The devastation is mostly caused due to the lack of safety walls constructed around inhabited localities. Capital Development Authority (CDA), being the sole municipal authority in the Capital, have miserably failed to fulfil  their fundamental responsibility of constructing these walls, to ensure safety of human lives.

CDA authorities held a meeting after the incident, to review the performance of the Flood Relief Cell.  The Chairman of CDA directed officials concerned to keep a strict watch on affected areas.  But this action seems very piece-meal and reactive and provides no long term solution.

  

Most of these slums dwellers originally hail from different parts of the country,  some say that they left their homes to escape abject poverty and sometimes persecution. Christians are a prominent part of the slums population and their women often work as housemaids while men do blue collar jobs or work as labourers.

Reliable statistics reveals eleven katchi abadies, including Hansa Colony, Charles Colony, Faisal Colony, 66 Quarters, French Colony, Awami Colony, 100 Quarters, Issa Nagri, Maskeen Colony, Mushraf Colony, and 48 Quarters have legal status under the Urban Shelter Program of Capital Development Authority (CDA), whereas others have been allowed to grow due to the negligence of the concerned departments. 

The concerned authorities have given them legal status but the dwellers are still deprived of basic welfare facilities. 

A report compiled by a local concern group shows a continuous increase in the number of “katchi Abadis” or slums, in the Federal Capital.  

Nadeem Hassan Asif, Chairman CDA said;

"...authorities will follow the government policy in provision of the facilities and will remove illegal slums in the city."

Wilson Chowdhry of the British Pakistani Christian Association, said;

"The failure of the CDA to manage and equip these slum settlements, is no doubt responsible for the elevated sickness and mortality rates, assigned to settlers.  For too long Pakistani authorities have neglected victims of poverty that have been forced into this demeaning lifestlye - lets be honest it is not a choice. This failure is a black mark on the state and illustrates a lack of desire to protect all it's people."

Canadian Minister for Religious Freedom Andrew Bennett, invites humanitarians to talk about Global persecution.

Wilson Chowdhry with Canadian Minister for Religious Freedom Andrew Bennett

Last night (4th July 2013)  Humanitarians gathered at the Canadian High Commission, Trafagar Square, London, to hear a conversation between newly commissioned Canadian Minister for Religious Freedom Andrew Bennett and Former Pakistani Minister for National Harmony, Paul Bhatti.  

The gathering was an opportunity for groups to learn and share about religious freedom in Pakistan and around the world.  

Paul Bhatti, described his short tenure as Minister of Religious Harmony, describing cases such as that of the Mother of  five children Asia Bibi; who became the first Christian woman to have gained a death sentence in 2010, after an argument with fellow berry pickers and the case of juvenile Rimsha Masih, who last year was accused under Pakistan's blasphemy laws, despite suffering from a mental impairment.  She has recently fled to Canada for safety and refuge reasons. To the consternation of a number of guests Dr Bhatti stated;

"I don't think the blasphemy laws of Pakistan are a problem".   

He went on to describe the inappropriate curriculum in Pakistan as the cause of religious schism in Pakistan.  Without being specific about the portrayal of minorities as evil characters or the lack of recognition of minority public figures who have contributed so much to the creation and development of Pakistan.  

Minister Bennet, described his role and informed invited guests that he was seeking to make stronger bonds with humanitarian groups, working in the field. At the end of the meeting Wilson Chowdhry provided some information on the BPCA and has agreed to forward an electronic copy of our latest report "The targetting of Minority Others' in Pakistan," to his office.

Wilson Chowdhry said;

"In accepting Rimsha Masih for asylum the Canadian Government has sent out a strong message, that it is a force for good in a broken world and that as a nation they will not pander to the whims of extremists.  We submitted a report to the Canadian Immigration and Refugee Board in January this year, which is being used as a tool to decide Pakistani Asylum seeker cases.  We hope to continue this relationship with the Canadian Government and hope to have opportunities to work with Minister Bennett going forward."

He added;

"Former Minister Paul Bhatti's perception of the Blasphemy laws are flawed.  The laws are specifically designed to protect the Islamic faith and provide no protection to other faiths, this type of bias send out the wrong message to the next generation of Pakistani's.  Education is only one step to a more egalitarian Pakistan, firstly the country need to accept that intolerance exists and should make immediate changes to the National curriculum, evidence of demonising of minorities in text books has existed for decades.  Moreover, the curriculum should introduce a more inclusive religious studies course, rather then Islamic studies. This will provide cultural enrichment, whilst removing fear of proselytising, which will reciprocally entice more minorities to take up education more earnestly."

Dr Paul Bhatti

The imposing Canadian High Commission at Trafalgar Square, London.

Humanitarians left bewildered by Paul Bhatti's talk at UK Parliament.

James Shere (MBE), Dr Paul Bhatti, Wilson Chowdhry and Rev Salaam.

The Uk's All Party Parliamentary Group on International Religious Freedom and the All Party Parliamentary Group on Pakistan invited UK Humanitarian Groups to attend a "Meeting with Dr Paul Bhatti, former Pakistani Federal Minster for National Harmony, and current Chairman of the All-Pakistan Minorities Alliance" on Wednesday July 3rd at the Houses of Parliament.

The Meeting was described as an opportunity to hear Dr Bhatti discuss the challenges facing religious minorities of all faiths in Pakistan, and the ongoing work of the Pakistani and UK Governments and civil-society organisations, to improve the situation.

During his presentation, Dr Bhatti referred to a carefully prepared speech and provided a brief insight into the problems facing Pakistani Christians, in particular reference was made to the case of Rimsha Masih the 14 year old Pakistani girl accused of  'blasphemy' who was acquitted last year and has recently sought refuge with her family in Canada.

Dr Bhatti described his role in preventing a wholesale backlash  against Pakistani Christian communities, by engaging with senior public figures within the Muslim community.

Dr Bhatti acknowledged that blasphemy laws were being used by some Pakistani people (including NGOs) with personal agendas.However, he stated that the Blasphemy laws themselves are not a problem.  He also acknowledged that the newly elected government was keen to address the issue of protection of Christians  and he welcomed the same.

In all, Dr Bhatti presented an optimistic future for Pakistani Christians and the need for a stronger emphasis of education at grass root level. He did however refer to the need for greater economic investment by the international community.

Dr Bhatti acknowledged and praised the Pakistani Human Rights Commission (PHRC), which caused great concern to Jas Uppal of the "Free Sarabjit Singh" campaign group, she said;

"..it was not clear to me as to why since my experience in contacting them [PHRC] in relation to  the cases I had sought help from them, was unimpressive. I sensed the Pakistani Human Rights Commission were towing the political line -mostly likely out of fear of reprisal and retaliation  from the Pakistani authorities. The Commission is not free to voice it concerns or champion cases."

She added; 

"The same applies to Dr Bhatti's organisation, I speculate that he will be allowed a controlled platform to appease the West and to attract financial aid but sadly the current status quo will remain."

A number of groups expressed great disappointment that Dr Bhatti did not refer to persecution of other minorities such as the Pakistani Sikhs and  Pakistani Hindus who have similarly suffered beheadings, rapes,  forced conversions, tax levied on their businesses and/or to  the current mass exodus of these groups to India in fear of persecution. Neither was their any mention of the enforced disappearance of the Baloch people or discrimination against Ahmaddiyahs or those of the Bahai faith.  Despite, funding from the UK Bahai's for this recent trip form Dr Paul Bhatti. 

Jas Uppal spoke of the defection to India of persecuted Hindus and Sikhs, rather disappointingly Dr Bhatti's response surmised that it is was only natural for Pakistani Sikhs and Hindus to join their kin in India, thus intimating it was their choice to leave Pakistan. 

Wilson Chowdhry said;

"Dr Paul Bhatti's constant assertion that the Blasphemy laws of Pakistan are of no consequence is deplorable.  The laws specifically refer to the Muslim faith and provide no protection for blaspheming against other faiths.  When Bibles are burned by extremists theses laws are not enacted and the culprits escape justice?  Yet when a Muslim landlord decides he wants a Christian or other minority owned property, he simply has to allege a blasphemy and a whole Christian community is made  homeless and desolate."  If these anachronistic laws are not abrogated future generations of Pakistani's will believe that it is natural to venerate in law, one faith above others."

Jas Uppal, Dr Bhatti, Baroness Berrige and Wilson Chowdhry.

A Large group of humanitarians.

Wilson Chowdhry, Jas Uppal, Lyn Julius of Harif a group that represents North African and Middle Eastern Jews.

Pakistani Christians Abroad - Asylum issues

Martha Bibi with Martyr Bhatti - picture from Asia News

Martha Bibi, the Christian mother accused of blasphemy in 2007 after Muslim contractors did not want to pay for construction goods brought from her and her husband's firm, has fled with her husband and a daughter to Sri Lanka, with the aim of claiming refugee status and seeking asylum in the West, according to reports.  She has been facing a possible death sentence since 2007, but close to 6 years after her original accusation, a date for trial was finally set several months ago.

Sources 1, 2 (background on the original accusation), and 3

Meanwhile Rimsha Masih, whose case garnered international press attention last year, has been granted asylum along with her family in Canada.  However, reports indicate that the family do not want it their exact location to be known, although it is known to be somewhere in the Toronto region, as they are still afraid of the consequences, even in Canada.  Sources within the Canadian Immigration department have said that the BPCA's submission (which they had already praised) about the situation of Christians in Pakistan had some impact on the approach to this case.  

Sources 1, 2, and 3

A Pakistani Christian lawyer visited Thailand earlier in the year to examine the conditions of Pakistani Christians who fled there, and found them in grave financial difficulties.  Thailand hasn't signed up to the 1951 international accord on refugee status, so all refugees and asylum seekers there are regarded as illegal immigrants and get no official aid, but have to rely on their own - often meagre - financial resources.  Fear of police raids mean some keep having to move accommodation and pay new security deposits.  Some refugees suffer trauma related conditions due to persecution back in Pakistan.  There are also security concerns about revealing their identity or having their photo taken, especially if they are forcibly deported back to Pakistan.  The lawyer put out an appeal for help.  

Source.  

USCIRF Alarmed by increasing violence against religious communities in Pakistan

Washington, D.C. – A suicide bomber attacked a Shia neighborhood in Quetta, the capital city of Pakistan’s Baluchistan province, on Sunday June 30, killing at least 36 individuals and wounding scores more.  Sunday’s attack is the latest in a string of attacks against Shias and comes amid rising violence committed against other religious communities.  Two weeks earlier, three extremists, including one suicide bomber, attacked a Shia religious school in Peshawar, killing 14 and wounding at least 28.

“The new Pakistani government must take resolute action against militant organizations that carry out acts of violence against religious groups and arrest and prosecute individuals involved in mob attacks against minorities,” said USCIRF Chair Dr. Katrina Lantos Swett.  “Allowing violence to occur without holding killers accountable increases the climate of impunity that threatens all Pakistanis.  Prime Minister Newaz Sharif needs to act swiftly.”

Over the past 18 months, USCIRF has become aware of over 250 attacks targeting religious communities in Pakistan.  Over 650 individuals have been killed, the overwhelming majority coming from the Shia community.  Nongovernmental organizations also recently reported several drive-by shootings targeting Ahmadis.  The Hindu community continues to suffer discrimination and the threat of forced conversions to Islam.  The Punjabi government has not taken effective measures against those who attacked the Christian community in Jacob colony in March 2013. 

“For the sake of his country, Prime Minister Sharif must confront this rising tide of violent religious extremism and ensure that the perpetrators of violence are arrested, prosecuted, and jailed,” said Dr. Lantos Swett.”

USCIRF welcomed Prime Minister Sharif’s mention of the plight of religious minorities in his maiden speech before the parliament.  “However, the closure of the Federal Ministry of Interfaith Harmony sent the opposite message. This Ministry served a unique and vitally important function by bringing different faiths together. It is needed now more than ever and should be reestablished," concluded Dr. Lantos Swett.

USCIRF’s 2013 Annual Report underscores the fact that Pakistan represents the worst situation in the world for religious freedom for countries that the U.S. government does not currently designate as “countries of particular concern.”   In addition to chronic violence, Pakistan’s laws, such as the blasphemy law and anti-Ahmadi laws, violate international human rights standards.