A 7-year-old Christian-girl crossing a wheat field alone on the way home to celebrate Easter with her grandmother was rescued from an attack when locals
heard her screams.
Neighbour Muhammad Shoaib. Usually Nadia would undertake the long and arduous journey with a friend, but in her excitement milk for her grandmother
to make fer favourite Kheer dish for Easter, meant she rushed home.
The Landowner followed the sound of the screaming and grabbed the would-be-rapist and during the ensuing scuffle, other men also came to her aid and
began to beat Mohammad Shoaib. Around 5-6 men apprehended him and frog marched him the short distance to Nadia’s home where she was comforted
by her grandmother, while her father joined the men and took Mr Shoaib to Talwandi Police station.
of rapes in the village.
4 years ago. Boota whose right arm was paralyzed in that accident, was left to care for Nadia, his 2 other daughters Eisha (13 yrs), Saadia (12 yrs),
and his 2 sons Adil (8 yrs) and 6-year-old Badil on his own.
pounds and is unable to afford the school fees for his children.
to drop the charges.
is supporting the family and has been accompanying them to the police station throughout the investigation.
He went on to say “I have had to help members of our congregation with small arguments between them and Muslim’s, however, Nadia’s case is a serious one”.
“it is sad that none of the other families of the 21 girls raped by Shoaib have had the courage to come forward to prosecute him for the previous crimes.
“This means all the pressure to drop the case by the family of Shoaib is being directed on a very vulnerable and terrified Christian family.
“Even then we stand with God and will be seeking justice as a church providing counselling and any other support required to Nadia and her family.”
and taking the crime seriously. We have asked Mr Boota Masih to inform us if the situation changes.
The family have asked for BACA to build a toilet facility at their small family home which would cost of £450 and would include a water tap, and flush and concrete building. This would prevent the daughters of Boota Masih from having to use a local field where they would be vulnerable. We would like to help with this project but need to rasie the funds to make this possible. If you feel moved to donate please (click here)
A copy of the FIR
Mehwish Bhatti, our National Executive in Pakistan, said:
“We thank God for protecting young Nadia.
“Christian girls in Pakistan are always under the threat of being kidnapped and raped because they are vulnerable due to poverty.
“More must be done to improve policing of these cases as often frightened families except a bribe in lieu of justice, to avoid being targeted by influential families protecting criminals.”