KASUR: Yesterday 1 April 2015 at about 12:45
pm the brother of Sardar Mushtaq Gill, Human Rights Defender, and chief
counsel of LEAD was attacked and shot by a Muslim man.
After
being approached by the BPCA, Gill agreed to provide legal counsel for
the case of two minor sisters Farzana and Sherish who were abducted and
gang-raped by five Muslim men turn by turn for a whole night at Chak
Number 651/2 G.B Jaranwala.
One
of the co-accused culprits Muhammad Azeem was granted bail and released
from jail. On 13 March 2015, he submitted his power of attorney in
trial court Jaranwala and on 17 March 2015, he then filed a cancellation
of bail petition in Lahore High Court under petition No.3482/15 which
was fixed on 30th March, 2015.
The
accused Muhammad Azeem with the help and support of some local gunda
(bad elements), who are notorious drugs dealers, approached Gill’s
brother Pervaiz Gill and requested a compromise of the gang-rape case.
Mr. Gill explained he could not do anything in this matter because he
has no concern with the case.
On
this refusal, they approached Gill and again demanded a compromise
which was declined. Mushtaq refused by saying that he is not the
complainant and for a compromise the complainant has the sole authority.
On
1st April around about 11:15 am a Muslim man, Muhammad Bilal alias
Babla, who is a notorious drug dealer and gunda of the area stopped
Gill’s brother on the way home and threatened him with dire consequences
for not agreeing a compromise. He also threatened that he would punish
Mushtaq as well. The two men quarreled and only stopped through
intervention by some local neighbours.
At
about 12:40 pm, Muhammad Baagh Blaqia, the father of Muhammad Bilal who
attacked and shot, along with some neighbours reached the home of Gill
and he requested a compromise and also apologized on behalf of his son
and requested him not to tell his brother and not to take any legal
action. On this Gill’s brother has forgiven his son and he insisted on
coming along with them towards their home for compromise with his son.
On the request of other neighbours Gill’s brother went along with them
towards his home. They had just reached their home and his son shouted
at Gill’s brother saying ‘how dare you Christians not act on the order
for a compromise of the gang-rape case’ and pointed a pistol at Gill’s
brother and said ‘run to save your life now’ and attacked and shot at
Gill’s brother. One bullet hit the lower back of Gill’s brother and he
was injured. Immediately, he was taken to the to local civil Hospital
and they refused to admit him and referred him to Jinnah Hospital,
Lahore where he was admitted and operated upon and the bullet was
removed from the body.
The
complaint for registration of FIR and for protection was submitted at
City Police Station Phool Nagar (Bhai Pheru) in which Sardar Mushtaq
Gill himself is a complainant. The case FIR NO.94/15 under section 324
PPC, dated 1 April 2015 was registered at City Police Station Phool
Nagar. The perpetrator has not yet been arrested by Police but pressure
for compromise has been extended towards Gill and his other family
members.
The
complainant of the gang-rape case Ilyas Masih was also threatened with
facing dire consequences and revenge. On 10th February 2015 at 17:30
two men on motorcycles stopped outside Sherish and Farzana’s house, in
village Chak no. 651/2, Jaranwala with a loaded repeater gun. These men
shouted out that they were the relatives of the boys Shahbaz, Asif and
Azeem who raped Sherish and Farzana and that the girls deserved to be
raped as they were unwanted Christians in a Muslim land and FIR No.66/15
has been registered at police station against the perpetrators.
On
22 March 2015, again Ilyas Masih Complainant in the gang-rape case and
the two Christian witnesses of the case were threatened by Muhammad
Azeem and Asif if there is no compromise regarding this incident. The
complaint diary no.272-SP/J in the office of Superintendent Police
Jaranwala has been submitted by Ilyas Masih, the same was submitted in
High Court in Lahore. Ilyas Masih is being continually threatened in
this case.
This
case of gang-rape was entrusted to LEAD by BPCA for free legal
assistance the BPCA kindly supported costs with a donation of £200 and
travel costs.
Mushtaq Gill said; “The fight for justice
and against inequality will be continued and our campaign against the
violation of human rights and for religious liberty shall not be
discouraged by such perpetrators and their actions. Our request is for
prayer for speedy recovery of Gill’s brother and for the safety of his
family members.”
Wilson Chowdhry Chairman of the BPCA, said:
“Ilyas Masih and his
family have suffered greatly, his two gang-raped daughters are in our
care and his sons have gone to live with an aunt, which is not a long
term solution. Threats to the family are increasing in intensity and
also in ferocity as the legal process proceeds through the Courts. “
He added:
“This latest attack has shattered any
remaining confidence the family held that justice would be done. It
seems that Muslim men do not fear Christian lawyers and they believe
violent conduct can be undertaken with impunity. Even then Ilyas Masih
and Mushtaq Gill have vowed to continue the fight for justice. I hope
Pakistani authorities reward this bravery and sentence the culprits, but
my confidence in Pakistan’s legal system has waned to its lowest ebb.”
