BPCA Lead Officer Mehwish Bhatti met three of Shama and Shezad's children on one of her regular visits to Lahore on 1st October 2018. She found the
children healthy and in good spirits and spent a day providing good company to children who have come to think of her as a special aunt. Suleman (9
yrs), Sonia (7 yrs) and Poonam (4 yrs) survived a vicious attack on their parents that say expecting mother Shama and her husband Shahzad who were
accused of blasphemy, thrown onto a brick kiln fire after a brutal violent beating and gang-rape (click here).
Mehwish said:
"Suleman is now in1st grade and is enjoying his time at school a lot, especially the physical rewards of playtime. His favourite play areas are the swings, slide and see-saw and he can often be seen playing on these with great vigour.
"Suleman's favourite subject is English and his particular interest is in English poems. He has promised to recite a poem for me when I return to meet him next month.
"Sonia and Poonam enjoy a strong bond of sisterhood and the eldest Sonia is very protective of Poonam. She and Poonam still share a bed and enjoy their private discussions and role-play games every night.
"Sonia is in Kindergarten year 1 and loves playing with dolls, so I have promised to buy her a doll and doll house set for Christmas. Poonam has also started school and is in the Kindergarten. She loves drawing with colour pencils and enjoys playing with the stuffed toys at school. They both drew me some lovely pictures.
"All the children attend Catholic Church Asif Town, Lahore every Sunday and are also active members within their Sunday school.
"Their nanny Sobia (32 yrs) is taking good care of the childrens diet and hygiene we have been informed by their grandfather [Muktar Masih].
Mehwish added:
"We are thankful to the Grandfather of the children who is taking care of the children despite being in his late 60's.