A Pakistani Christian girl known simply as Mehwish of only 14 years of age was kidnapped in March last year and forced into an Islamic marriage. The
incident occurred after Mehwish was sent to work as a domestic cleaner at the house of a Muslim man named Zahid Iqbal. Almost a year later she has
still not been found despite the culprits being known.
Her father Tanveer Masih who tried to pay for her release by agreeing to pay a ransom and terminating his legal case against Mr Iqbal on return of
his daughter, was shot dead only 3 months after her kidnap. Seven bullets were shot through his body at close range leaving him to die a slow painful
death. Read full story (click here)
Please sign our petition against kidnap, rape and forced marriage in Pakistan (click here)
A legal battle for Mehwish that was gaining momentum was terminated on the death of her father Tanveer. Apparently the case was linked to the
main proponent and his death meant the family had to begin again. Sadly for the family her father had sold his house to fight for his daughter’s
freedom and could not afford to reopen the case.
BPCA came to the rescue of the family and organised a safe house for them, while a Catholic charity took on a new legal case for the family. But in
recent weeks the lawyer Saeed Gujjar leading the challenge for justice for Najma the wife of Tanveer and her family has passed away. The family
is no longer being supported by the Catholic charity and we have been asked to cover the legal costs for the family.
We need to raise £1500 for the legal counsel require for Najma and her family and are seeking your help in bringing justice to this situation. If you would like to donate towards this work please (click here).
The murder case and kidnap, rape and forced marriage case were all being fought in tandem. Five men were implicated in the crime including Zahid
Iqbal (24 years) who forcibly married Mehwish who has been arrested for kidnap, rape and forced marriage and is the main suspect in the murder case.
His father Muhammed Iqbal (55 years) has also been arrested for helping in the kidnap and forced marriage of Mehwish as he was a witness on her sham
marriage papers. He had originally given himself up to the Police before the initial inquiry stating that he was innocent as the marriage was legal.
A Mr Ayub and Umar Daraz cousins of Zahid Iqbal were investigated and released after the questioning for their roles as the two negotiators who arranged
the meeting for the proposed exchange of Mehwish for legal papers and a fiscal ransom. Police are convinced though no-one else is that the two
men knew nothing of the murder that would ensue.
Tahir Iqbal a younger brother of Zahid has fled the authorities and is wanted under a warrant for his arrest for involvement in both the murder of
Tanveer and the kidnapping of Mehwish.
We need to raise £1500 for the legal counsel required for Najma and her family and are seeking your help in bringing justice to this situation. If you would like to donate towards this work please (click here).
Please sign our petition against kidnap, rape and forced marriage in Pakistan (click here)