The frightened family of a 14 year old Christian girl who was kidnapped, raped and forced into Islamic marriage by a Muslim employer, have secured justice
after the murderers were successfully charged for killing of their patriarch who was fighting for Mehwsh’s freedom.
On the 12th of March 2016 14 year old Mehwish Masih traveled to the house of Zahid Iqbal (30 years) to undertake domestic services required for
a birthday party. However Mehwish never returned home and the employer when approached alleged that he knew nothing of her whereabouts. A few
days later the family received a letter confirming that Mehwish had willingly converted to Islam and was now married to the employer. The family
of Mehwish were denied access to their daughter, who was conveniently away from the employers home whenever the parents visited.
Without seeking help from charities Mehwish’s father Tanveer Masih sold his home and hired a solicitor to free her. However the father was shot dead
on 31st May after agreeing to a rendezvous with the cousin of Zahid Iqbal, at which he was told he could retrieve his daughter in exchange for dropping
the legal case. Read full story (click here)
After initial reticence to investigate the reported murder by local Police at Sadar Station, BPCA officers got involved and pressed for more intensity
by involving local politicians. This had the desired effect and eventually evidence implicated Zahid Iqbal, his brother Tahir Iqbal and
his father Muhammed Iqbal in the murder. Both Muhammed and Zahid Iqbal were arrested on 16th August 2016, however Tahir Iqbal is still be foudn
and is a fugitive – a police search operation is ongoing.
During a police interview Zahid Iqbal confessed to the murder of Tanveer Masih and has been charged. The BPCA is confident that this confession
will lead to full prosecution for murder within the next few months at Faisalabad High Court. This belief has been reinforced by Sadar Police
who have stated they are confident a murder conviction will ensue.
The murder trial for Tanveer Masih will take place in tandem with the rape and forced marriage case of Mehwish, who is yet to be found. A police
search operation is underway for the Mehwish and BPCA calls for people to pray for her to safely return to her family.
Since discovering the plight of the family of Tanveer Masih the BPCA has been assisting them. We have moved them to a safe home and have contributed
to their legal costs, resulting in this landmark police investigation. Moreover we provided a safe house for the family and have been sustaining
them with food and educational costs.
Taking the Christian family away from the threats of the relatives of the accused, has helped galvanize them for the necessary court hearings they
will have to attend. We will protect them as much as possible from abuse and threats during those hearings and will accompany them at all hearing
dates. BPCA have been providing biblically based counselling and general advice.
Najma Tanveer, widow of Tanveer Masih, said:
“We were hopeless and destitute but God has delivered us. I have lost my husband Tanveer but thank God that I know he is safe in His presence. The cruel men that destroyed our lives will have to answer before God one day but even before then, I believe they will be punished here on earth too. I want my daughter Mehwish back so desperately, she should be in my arms that I can protect and comfort her. Please ask Christians to pray for her safety and return.”
This is now a second positive decision in crimes against Christians that BPCA have reported back on this year (click here). Something previously unheard of and credit should be given to the Government of Pakistan, for their tight security measures for victims and monitoring
the policing practice during the investigation on the cases we have been working on. It must be said however that no judicial process can bring
back the father of this beleaguered family, nor will it ever remove the traumatic memories that will have scarred Mehwish for life. This progress is
a reactive response to an attack on minority citizens, sadly such care is far from ubiquitous and our success will be linked to the profile we have
attained. Nevertheless some progress is better then none.
Kanwal Amar, an officer of the British Pakistani Christian Association, said:
“Helping victims like Najma Tanveer and her daughters has been a blessing to our group. The loss of a daughter/sister was a bitter pill to swallow coupled with the murder of their family patriarch their situation was one of complete despair. Their painful story is one that condemns Pakistani society for the vulnerability of their minorities. Christian girls are targets for sexual predators that too often surface within the Muslim majority, buoyed by a culture of impunity through limp and uncaring statutory authorities and the insouciance of peers and colleagues. We have been able to provide solace and comfort and helped them to grieve their loss, more importantly it would seem that some justice is to be brought to this families situation. God will help them rebuild their lives and just playing a part was a great reward.”
Wilson Chowdhry, Chairman of the BPCA, said:
“International pressure is starting to bring change and the current Government is fashioning processes that in decades to come may result in a fairer Pakistan. The main challenge they will face is how to remove societal hatred for minorities. The longer they take to amend existing bias in the national curriculum of Pakistan, the more the hatred towards minorities that is inculcated from school age is allowed to fester and will continue to espouse polarization. This simply creates a sense of worthlessness of minority communities.”
Please sign our petition (click here)
A BPCA sponsor has paid for accommodation and other expenses for Najma Tanveer’s family for one year. However the family have no living males of employable age and we do not want to place the young girls into dangerous employment. Christian girls are extremely vulnerable in Pakistan especially those forced into domestic servitude. Our desire is too keep the young girls in school so that they might find more rewarding employment. If you would like to help us provide ongoing support for this family until the young girls reach adulthood, please (click here).
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Family were moved into safe house for their protection.
Food and other supplies are being provided by BPCA.
The move will be for a year which is the expected duration of the families impending court battle.
At night prayers were said.