A 14 year Christian girl from a poor brick kiln worker family was kidnapped and raped by three Muslim men on her way to school.
The young girl was kept hostage for 25 days at an unknown location in Lahore.
Nagina Akram was later recovered from the residence of the culprits
A medical report has confirmed that Miss Akram is a juvenile who is underage for marriage, and that she was forcefully raped multiple times during a brutal abduction.
Pattoki police have arrested the main culprit while the other two culprits remain in hiding.
In a small village near Lahore, the peaceful life of a Christian brick kiln worker’s family was shattered on 1st September 2023, when their 14-year-old daughter, Nagina Akram, became the victim of a horrifying crime. Nagina, a fifth-grade student on her way to school, was kidnapped at gunpoint by three Muslim predators -Abid Ali, Ramzan Ali, and Muhammad Naeem, three brothers who reside at the same address.
The abductors arrived in a van, forcefully pushing Nagina inside before quickly leaving the scene. Two men, Ranga Masih and Aslam Masih, witnessed Muhammad Abid and his cohorts violently forcing Nagina into the van and speeding away. They promptly rushed to inform Akram Masih about the tragic incident that had befallen his innocent daughter.
Without any delay, the perturbed and helpless father, unsure of how to navigate such a distressing situation, informed his slave-mater, Muhammad Amjad, who promptly called 15 seeking police assistance. The police arrived promptly and raided the residence of the culprits in Baloki, a village next to Aulkh Bonga. Akram Masih conveyed to BACA,
“Our agitation and fears heightened upon learning that the abductors had already fled with my innocent daughter to an unknown location.”
“The police consoled me and assured that the culprits would be apprehended soon. I tirelessly called the police to ascertain the whereabouts of my daughter, but they consistently disappointed me for 25 days.”
Despite the complaint being submitted on the same day as the incident, the Saddar Police Phoolnagar unprofessionally delayed the registration of the FIR against the perpetrators, which was eventually completed on September 13th – a full 12 days later. The already-married perpetrator, Muhammad Abid, upon learning that a formal crime investigation had commenced following the FIR registration, and fearing arrest, judicial trial, and impending punishment for the abduction and rape of a minor girl, fabricated a second marriage with Nagina to present as evidence in court.
On September 25th, after the tireless efforts of and numerous unproductive visits to the police station, a glimmer of hope returned to helpless Akram Masih when the brick kiln’s Munshi (Manager/accountant) informed him that Muhammad Abid had returned to his house in Baloki Village. Akram Masih promptly contacted the police station, leading to a raid that successfully recovered Nagina from Muhammad Abid’s residence. The police arrested him and reunited Nagina with her parents.
Overcome with desperation to be with her family once more, Nagina hurried out of the rapists home towards her grieving parents. Tears streamed down her face as she disclosed the harrowing ordeal she had endured during her captivity. Embracing one another tightly, Nagina and her parents wept, coming to grips with the desperate trial their daughter had managed to survive.
Later that evening, Nagina confided in her mother, revealing the distressing truth that all three brothers—Muhammad Abid (36 years old), Muhammad Ramzan (40 years old), and Muhammad Nadeem (34 years old)—had subjected her to multiple instances of sexual assault during her stay with them. She described the agonizing experiences, recounting not only the sexual abuse by her captors but also the physical beatings she endured.
On the 27th of September, Nagina was taken to Tehsil Headquarters Hospital Pattoki, where Dr. Shireen Mushtaq, the Women Medical Officer, issued a medical report after examining Nagina, confirming that she had been raped multiple times. The report also documented signs of physical violence on Nagina’s body.
Muhammad Abid was apprehended, while his elder brother, Muhammad Ramzan, secured post-arrest bail. The younger brother, Muhammad Nadeem, remained in hiding to evade police arrest.
On the 2nd of October, Nagina appeared in the court of Malik Waqar Ahmad, an additional session judge at Pattoki Courts, to provide her statement under Section 164 PPC (Pakistan Penal Code).
The accused, Muhammad Abid, presented a fake marriage certificate in court, asserting that he had married Nagina in Lahore on the 1st of September after she had embraced Islam on the same day. He claimed that Nagina had threatened to take her own life if he rejected her marriage proposal. According to his alleged account, Nagina had willingly consented to marry Mr. Abid, despite being aware of his previous marriage and children with his first wife.
In her court statement on the 2nd of October, Nagina vehemently expressed that she had been unlawfully detained by the perpetrators and was completely unaware of any marriage or conversion to Islam. She clarified that she was coerced and threatened into providing her thumb impression on the marriage certificate, vehemently denying any voluntary conversion to Islam.
Asif Gill, a local activist from Pattoki, alerted BACA (British Asian Christian Association) to the situation, stating, “The culprits are habitual sexual predators, a few years ago, they abducted two Christian girls from the same brick kiln, converted and married them. Would that they were punished then, they could have not committed the same crime again.”
On the 19th of October, BACA extended its support to Nagina’s family, commending their courage in the pursuit of justice for their innocent daughter. Despite the financial hardships and obstacles they face, the family remains steadfast in their quest for justice. Akram Masih, Nagina’s father, has sought legal assistance from BACA, underscoring the necessity for a solicitor to ensure that the perpetrators face the consequences of their actions.
In response, we have offered assistance in various ways. One avenue involves freeing the family from their slavery contract, allowing them to resume the court case without constraints—an endeavor that comes with a cost of 100,000 Pakistani rupees (£2857). Additionally, we have pledged to provide financial support for a solicitor, with an estimated cost of at least £1500, to bolster the family’s legal efforts. If anyone reading this feels compelled to contribute and support Nagina and her family in their pursuit of justice, please consider making a donation (here). Your generosity can make a meaningful impact in helping them overcome the financial challenges and continue their fight for justice.
Akram Masih, along with his family, is residing in a location unknown to the culprits. He is grappling with a severe financial crisis due to the loss of his job. Akram Masih shared that at times, he has to borrow money from relatives to cover the expenses of commuting to court. He has reached out to BACA, requesting assistance in securing a solicitor to pursue Nagina’s case, ensuring that her culprits face the appropriate punishment for the heinous crimes of rape and kidnapping.
Juliet Chowdhry, Trustee for British Asian Christian association, said:
“The significant delay in filing an FIR (crime report) and the subsequent civil legal proceedings sheds light on the shortcomings within the Pakistani justice system. The fact that a Muslim perpetrator can coerce an underage girl into signing a fraudulent marriage to evade accountability is deeply troubling. It becomes even more egregious when rogue mosques continue to facilitate such unlawful ceremonies, despite assurances from the Pakistani government that they would be eradicated. This highlights a lack of genuine commitment to addressing and rectifying the situation at its core.”
Mrs. Chowdhry emphasized, “Nagina’s bravery in speaking out in court, explicitly denying any consent to marriage or conversion, brought to the forefront the manipulative tactics employed by the perpetrators. It’s crucial to recognize that this is not an isolated incident, as these criminals have previously targeted the Christian community in the area, forcibly marrying two other Christian girls from the same brick kiln. Local authorities need to take more proactive measures to safeguard Nagina and ensure a successful outcome in court.”
