The Christian community in Muridke is reeling from the shocking rape of a mentally challenged woman in her own home.
The assailant entered through the roof stairs to commit the heinous act. The police have responded by filing an FIR against the unknown perpetrator and have arrested three to four suspects. A forensic team is collecting evidence to aid the investigation.
The victim’s family is heartbroken and demands justice for their loved one. Read the original report (here)
On May 16th, Muhammad Shahbaz, one of the 13 suspects apprehended by the Muridke police since May 13th, confessed to raping Asma Bibi, a 35-year-old mentally challenged Christian woman, while in police custody at Saddar Police Station Muridke. Shahbaz is Asma Bibi’s neighbour.
Earlier, on May 15th, Station House Officer (SHO) Muhammad Zaheer Shah of the Muridke Police asked Nasir Masih to come to the police station on the 16th of May with his daughter to identify the rapists among a series of identity parades with the arrested suspects. However, Mr. Nasir, fearing potential coercion by the police, requested a BACA officer to accompany him. “I am uneducated and fear that the police may deceive me into signing documents. I request you to accompany me to the police station,” Mr. Nasir said.
BACA promptly acted and sent one of our officers, accompanied by Advocate Naseeb Anjum, to escort Nasir Masih to the police station. Before their appointment however, Mr Anjum received a call from the police that Mr Shahbaz had confessed to the crime.
Around 6:00 pm, our officer Edward Naseer, Mr Anjum, Nasir Masih, and his uncle Iftikhar Masih arrived at the police station. Muhammad Zaheer Shah informed them about the progress of the police investigation shared more details about the confession of Muhammad Shahbaz who gave himself up after he realized he would be recognized during the identity parade. Shahbaz was then brought to the SHO’s office by a constable.
During the interrogation, which took place in the presence of Nasir Masih and the BACA team, Shahbaz confessed to the crime and detailed how he committed it. He described the location of the bed where Asma was lying when he entered the house through the stairs leading to the roof. In response to one of the questions, Muhammad Shahbaz admitted that he knew Asma was alone in the house. “I was sexually aroused, so I entered the house and raped Asma,” Shahbaz told the police officers.
After committing the heinous crime, the rapist went to a nearby canal to bathe and returned home in the evening, where the police eventually arrested him. Mr. Shah explained to BACA officers that the police had confirmed from the community that Muhammad Shahbaz’s wife had left him long ago, and since then, he had been residing with his younger brother, Muhammad Toqeer.
As of now, the police have arrested 13 suspects and though they have a confession from Mr Shhabaz, have not released them. The delay in their release is creating some community angst against the Masih family. Mr. Shah informed BACA that the police were awaiting the results of DNA sampling from the Forensic Department.
The Masih family finds themselves in a harrowing situation, navigating threats and intimidation from individuals pressuring them to abandon their pursuit of justice. Since the arrest of the suspects involved, a wave of hostility has swept through the Muslim community, leaving Nasir Masih and his loved ones isolated and vulnerable.
These threats, delivered with ominous warnings of impending disaster should they persist in seeking justice, cast a chilling shadow over the family’s already tumultuous ordeal. Yet, despite the mounting pressure and intimidation tactics, Nasir Masih remains resolute in his commitment to seek justice.
“The Muslim community in the neighborhood is pressuring us to leave the village,” Nasir Masih expressed. “I don’t know where to go. I am prepared to face all circumstances, but I will not allow the culprit to escape justice.”
Nasir Masih extended his gratitude to BACA for the moral and legal support provided.
Nasir Masih urgently sought legal help from BACA to secure justice for Asma Bibi, understanding the necessity of professional support. In Pakistan, murder and rape trials are civil cases, meaning families must find their own legal representation. This underscores the need for legal aid to navigate complex proceedings and advocate for the victim. We are funding a solicitor at £1500 and you can help us meet these costs by donating (here) Additionally, we aim to relocate the family to safety if hostility persists, requiring £150 per month for six months to cover rent.
Juliet Chowdhry, Trustee for British Asian Christian Association, stated: “A very vulnerable woman was violently and brutally raped in her own home by a neighbor. The man shows no remorse, justifying his act as merely giving in to his urges, as if that were a valid excuse. It’s appalling that Islamic Sharia law permits such crimes to be forgiven through compensation payments, which fosters a sense of impunity and only serves to exacerbate and proliferate such crimes against minority Christians.”
Read more about Pakistan’s notorious Qisas and Diayt Laws (here)
