Our officer Naveed Aziz with Suleman, Sonia and Poonam with their new beds
How do you compensate children who have lost their mother and father through one of the most brutal faith hate killings known to man?
Pakistan lost its credibility as a democratic free nation in the eyes of the world when on the fateful day of November 4th 2014, a poor Christian couple locked in a modern day slavery contract to a inhuman landlord, were burnt alive in front of their infant children simply for being Christian. Oh yes, there were completely false blasphemy charges laid against the couple who it had beeen purported burnt Islamic writings from a Koran, but for all intents and purposes it was their Christian faith that meant Shama and Shahzad were vulnerable targets.
The attack occurred after Shama was raped by the munshi (accountant) of the landlord. Disgraced, hurt and unable to inform the insouscciant local police of this heinious crime due to their Christian faith and deprived background, the couple asked their landlord to release them from their contract that had been signed with a thumbprint, due to the illiteracy of Shahzad (much the same as 93% of the 5 million Christians of Pakistan). The Landlord's obvious reaction was to preserve his assets, so he duly demanded they pay £5000 for their release, despite years of service and an initial debt of less than £50. Their inability to muster up the extremely extortionate figure led to them being lockeed in a storehouse on the field where they worked till the debt was paid, as the landlord now feared they would abscond.
The munshi used this illegal incarceration to his advantage. Writing posters filled with hatred, he used his knowledge of the burning of some papers in an amulet earlier that day by Shama to condemn the couple as blasphemers. Shama had simply cleared away the possessions of her father in law who had died recently and knew of their amulets pagan origins. Police later clarified that no Koran had been burnt, as always their response was too little too late.
A mob of 3000 local people (termed extremists by Pakistani authorities), but in an all honesty just normal folk, some of whom would certainly have known the couple, who turned against them in the frenzy and hysteria generated by the imam, baying for their blood and demanding their death, even as their mosque speakers crackled from the strain of amplifying their already high decibel ranting.
After ripping off the roof of the storehouse and throwing their youngest child to the floor, the mob dragged the couple out, beat them, stripped them naked and gang-raped Shama, forcing Shazhad to helplessly watch. The couple, traumatised and humiliated, were then tied up and dragged at the back of a tractor across extremely rough, dry and arid terrain. Still alive, as witnessed by poor Suleman their 6 year old son, they were then burnt alive in a brick kiln. Suleman later interviewed by Pakistani TV- totally insensitive to the trauma he had been through described how his mother and father had twitched while roasted in the same kiln they had worked at.
How do you console children that have witnessed the most brutal murder of their own parents? Moreover how do you replace the mother and father of innocent young children left orphaned and still targeted by extremists?
The BPCA have prioritised the nurturing of these children and from the date of the attack we have been counselling the family and children. Within a month of the attack we had secured a nanny who cares for the children full time, preparing their food, washing their clothes, providing counsel, bathing them and reading stories at night are just some of her many tasks. She is as close to a substitute mother as anyone and keeps us informed of how else we can better help them.
Sadly early donations for these children have now dried up, however a generous benefactor recently gave a sizeable donation allowing us to repaint their squalid home. We were also finally able to buy the children comfortable beds, removing the charpai (string beds) that they had been sharing which caused them back pain and discomfort. They were delighted to receive the new beds along with the accompanying new bedding. Suleman was excited to have 'Spiderman' on his, which is what he chose, and the girls are also very pleased with theirs. Sonia picked a 'Disney Princess' cover and Poonam a 'Frozen' one. The children also received new school bags and bedside cupboards which has gone some way to making their house feel more like a home. Our Pakistan officers were very blessed to see their joy. We are also hoping to be able to carpet the house in the future and would ideally like to raise the funds to do that while the colder weather is here. BPCA is very grateful to those who have given over the last year, but we do need regular donors in order to sustain our support of this family over a longer period of time.
Alison Houghton, BPCA Trustee, said:
"Shama and Shahzad were murdered in the worst possible way simply for being poverty stricken Christians. Suleman, Sonia and Poonam were cruelly robbed of their mum and dad when they needed them most, Poonam being just a baby at the time. I am very grateful that we have now been able to decorate the house and provide the furniture they desperately needed. It is my hope and prayer that these children will remain in the hearts and prayers of our supporters, and that we will secure the funding to provide them with a stable and comfortable environment for many years to come."
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We are committed to Shama and Shahzad's children and we will continue to do all that we can to provide for them but we need your help to do it. Please give what you can afford, no matter how small, and join with us in showing them the daily love and care that they need.
Thank you.
Your gift can be sent using these bank details:
Payee: BPCA
Sort Code: 20-44-22
Account number: 43163318
Bank: Barclays
Ref: Love for Shama and Shahzad
For international donations please use these details:
IBAN: GB62 BARC 20442243163318
SWIFTBIC: BARCGB22
Alternatively you can give via PayPal, our email address is info@britishpakistanichristians.org.
Cheques should be made payable to the BPCA to our address: 57 Green Lane, Ilford, Essex, IG1 1XG.
BRITISH PAKISTANI CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION is a trading name for BRITISH PAKISTANI CHRISTIANS LTD which is a charity entered onto the Register of Charities with the Registered Charity Number 1163363
With your support we hope to change the lives of millions of Pakistani Christians.
Shared charpai beds and shabby walls did not make the house very welcoming for the children
Suleman is happy with his Spiderman bed and newly decorated wallsPoonam chose Poonam chose 'Frozen' bedding for her new bed
Sonia sits proudly on her new bed with Disney Princess cover
Smiles from Poonam for the new beds with grandfather Mukhtar Masih, Sonia and Suleman