Christian Daily International-Morning Star News courtesy CTS
In a deeply unsettling case in Pakistan’s Punjab Province, a Christian family faces intense pressure after their 14-year-old daughter was allegedly raped. The family of the accused, a Muslim man, is reportedly coercing them to abandon the legal charges.
Javed Masih, from the village of Chak No. R-97/6 in the Sahiwal District, recounted that Sajid Ali, linked to his employer Mukhtar Ali, committed the crime on June 14. The tragic event occurred while Masih and his wife were occupied in the fields, leaving their daughter alone at home.
According to Masih’s statement to Christian Daily International-Morning Star News, “The accused raped her at gunpoint and before leaving threatened her that he would kill me if she told anyone about the incident.” Fearing repercussions, the young victim initially remained silent.
The family’s awareness of the assault emerged two weeks later, as they noticed alarming changes in their daughter’s behavior. Normally a vivacious ninth-grader, she had become withdrawn and avoided family interactions.
Masih’s wife, upon probing, learned of the horrendous ordeal their daughter endured. Despite their devastation, the family chose silence, fearing the influential status of Sajid Ali’s family, which boasts significant political and financial clout.
However, the family’s silence was short-lived. On July 12, Sajid Ali reportedly attempted another attack. Alerted by a neighbor, Masih and his wife rushed home to find their daughter in distress and managed to apprehend the assailant, subsequently calling the police.
Following Ali’s arrest, his family began pressuring Masih to settle the matter privately, even offering a bribe of 1 million Pakistani rupees, which Masih declined. Facing threats, Masih received support from Christians’ True Spirit, a legal aid group.
Sajid Ali faces charges under Section 376 (iii) of the Pakistan Penal Code concerning the rape of a minor, which could result in life imprisonment or death. There is also a push to include charges under Section 452 for house-trespass with intent to cause harm.
Katherine Sapna from Christians’ True Spirit expressed concern over the influence wielded by the accused’s family, stating, “The accused’s family wields considerable influence in the area and may attempt to harm the girl or the family to prevent them from pursuing the case in court.”
The rise in sexual violence against Christian girls in Punjab Province is alarming, with perpetrators often escaping justice due to the victims’ vulnerable status. Pakistan ranks eighth on Open Doors’ World Watch List for countries where life as a Christian is most challenging.
This article was originally written by www.christianpost.com
