On August 7, 2024, two Christian sisters from Kathor village in Gojra, Punjab, were accused of desecrating the Quran, leading to a tense situation in their community. The sisters, Sonia Bibi (28) and Saima Bibi (38), live together with their families. Saima, a widow, supports her two children by working as a vaccinator at a Government Rural Health Centre in the village, while Sonia and her husband work at a brick kiln.
The accusations quickly incited anger among local Muslims, who gathered to form a mob and attacked the sisters’ residence. Fortunately, both women remained unharmed, as the local police swiftly intervened to disperse the enraged crowd. The police arrested Saima Bibi and took her children, Savior Masih (8) and Aima Bibi (11), to the police station for their protection. Sonia Bibi, who was out of town with her husband and children at the time of the incident, chose not to return home after learning of the attack and her sister’s arrest.
After the arrest, the police took Saima Bibi and her children to Saddar Police Station in Gojra. Saima remained in police custody until midnight, when she was transferred to Toba Tek Singh jail to ensure her safety.
On August 12th, a team from BACA (British Asian Christian Association) traveled to Gojra to meet with Saima’s family. Upon arrival, they found Saima’s residence locked but managed to contact her brother, Hanook Masih (48 yrs), who was caring for her children, Savior and Aima. The team arranged to meet him at a location in another city in Punjab.
During their meeting, Hanook recounted the distressing events that led to his sister’s entrapment under false blasphemy accusations. He explained that on August 6th, a local Muslim woman named Bushro Pathani visited Saima’s home, requesting to borrow a motorcycle belonging to Sonia Bibi’s husband, Fariyad Masih. Saima agreed to lend the motorcycle as long as it wouldn’t be taken far. Bushro did not press the issue but remained at Saima’s house for about an hour. Before leaving, she requested a polythene sack, which Saima provided.
Bushro left around 4:00 PM but returned at 8:00 PM, accompanied by several members of the Muslim community from the village. She accused Saima of providing her with a sack containing torn pages of the Quran. Shocked by the accusation, Saima vehemently denied any involvement in such a grievous act and pleaded with Bushro and the others to refrain from making false allegations. After some confrontation, the group left Saima’s house, but the situation soon escalated, leading to the attack on the sisters’ residence the following day.
The next morning, around 12:00 PM, a large and angry crowd of local Muslims gathered outside Saima Bibi’s residence, demanding her execution and threatening to burn down her house. Fortunately, someone in the crowd called the police emergency helpline (15), prompting a swift response. The police arrived just in time, dispersing the mob and arresting Saima Bibi. She was then transported to Saddar Police Station in Gojra. An FIR (First Information Report) was registered against her (FIR No. 924/24) under Section 295-B of the Pakistan Penal Code, which deals with blasphemy charges related to desecration of the Quran.
Hanook Masih explained that his sister, Saima, is a health worker and a supporter of Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI), the political party led by Imran Khan. During the General Elections in February 2024, Saima actively campaigned for PTI. Most of the local Muslims, however, support the Pakistan Muslim League (N), which created tension and animosity towards Saima due to her political affiliations. Hanook believes that this political hostility is the real reason behind the false blasphemy accusations against his sister.
He also mentioned that Saima called him from jail, expressing deep concern for her children. She asked him to take care of them, saying, “I am worried about my children. Please keep them in your care. Pray for the false allegations against me to be removed.”
Juliet Chowdhry, Trustee for the British Asian Christian Association, expressed her deep concern for Saima Bibi’s safety, stating:
“In a country where accusations of blasphemy can lead to extreme violence and even death, Saima Bibi’s situation is dire. The blasphemy laws in Pakistan are frequently exploited as a tool for discrimination and persecution, often targeting minorities and those with differing political or religious views. It’s important to note that the majority of these allegations are eventually found to be false. Sadly, the damage is already done by the time justice is sought. Our primary concern is Saima’s safety and ensuring that she receives fair legal representation to counter these baseless accusations.”
