Relatives of Shazia protesting in Lahore. Photo: Dawn newspaper, via assistnews.net

Pakistani Christian victim of alleged torture laid to rest

Shazia Bashir, the 12-year-old Christian minor who died on Friday, January 22, 2010, after alleged torture and sexual abuse by her master, was laid to rest in Lahore, the provincial capital of Punjab province, on Monday, January, 25, 2010, reports Dan Wooding, founder of ASSIST Ministries.

About 2,000 Christian believers attended her funeral service at the Cathedral Church Lahore. The body was then taken to the house of the deceased in Samanabad, Lahore, before the burial.

ANS has discovered that Bashir Lal, the father of the dead girl, and Nasreen Bibi, her mother, are still in a state of shock.

The case has once again brought into spotlight the issue of child labor and especially the plight of minor Christians who work in Muslims’ houses.

Christian rights activists have praised the national media for highlighting Shazia’s case but have come down hard on the local police for its allegedly discriminatory attitude and criminal negligence in handling Shazia’s case.

According to various media reports, the Superintendent of Police Cantonment has suspended Abid Rasheed, the Station House Officer of Police Station “A division” for criminal negligence.

The local media reports have said that the Muslim lawyer who is accused of allegedly torturing and sexually abusing the dead girl has been arrested.

ANS has learned that the police had formed four investigation teams. One of the teams discovered that Shazia was first taken to Jinnah hospital after alleged torture and alleged sexual abuse. The police are going to investigate the doctor in Jinnah hospital who treated Shazia.

The victim of alleged torture and abuse was then taken to Meo Hospital, Lahore, where she succumbed to her injuries.

Sohail Johnson of Sharing Life Ministry Pakistan (SLMP) told our correspondent that police should do an “impartial investigation so that justice could be served.”

He said it was a normal practice for well-off Muslims to employ minors for house work. “The affluent women fully participate in social life and expect the minor employees to do all house chores and even baby sit their children,” he said.

“The minor servants are often asked to sleep on floor and are often under-nourished and eat left-over food.

“Their masters treat them like animals and do not give them medical treatment when they need it,” Johnson went on to say.

Nadeem Anthony, a Council Member of Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has termed Shazia’s killing “a tragic incident.” He said according to the post-mortem report Shazia was denied food while she worked at the lawyer’s house.

“She would beg for food from neighbors,” said Anthony who went on to say that was “regrettable” that a minor was allegedly so mercilessly tortured and killed.

When our correspondent asked Mr. Anthony why the Christians of Pakistan have to stage protest demonstrations before any action against the accused could be initiated, he said, “Poverty and their (Christian) faith are the reasons for this biased and intolerant disposition.

“Minorities do not enjoy any rights in Pakistan. I have been witnessing incidents of injustice with them for last 15 years.”

When asked what the HRCP would do to ensure that justice is done, Mr. Anthony said they would support the victim’s family and would monitor the case.

“The killing of minors is shocking beyond belief,” he added.

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TAGS: Pakistan Shazia Bashir Christian minor sexual abuse torture funeral service child labor Sharing Life Ministry Pakistan persecution

[01/26/2010]

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