British Pakistani Christian Association photo

Pakistani lawyer accused of Christian girl's murder gets bail

A court in Lahore, Pakistan, has granted bail to a wealthy Muslim lawyer accused of the Jan. 22 torture, rape and murder of his 12-year-old domestic servant, Shazia Bashir, reports Baptist Press.

Shazia, whose family is Catholic, had been working as a domestic laborer for Choudry Naeem for eight months at a salary equivalent to about $12 per month, the Catholic News Agency reported. Her parents had repeatedly been denied visitation and found her in serious condition when they finally were allowed to visit. She was taken a hospital in Lahore, where medical personnel reportedly discovered evidence of torture and rape. Shazia later died at the hospital.

Naeem is a former president of the Lahore's High Court who reportedly has close relations with the Pakistani army, the Punjab government, and the Pakistani Muslim League (Nawaz), the news service reported. He allegedly offered Shazia's family the equivalent of $250 to keep silent about her treatment.

Naeem's lawyer claimed that Shazia's autopsy report did not indicate she had been tortured to death, the Pakistan Daily Times reported. He said Shazia was suffering from an "infection caused by previous injuries."

Child labor is illegal in Pakistan.

The human rights organization representing Shazia's family said it faces huge challenges in seeing Naeem receive a just sentence.

"While the Pakistani government was quick to make promises and pledges along the lines of 'justice will be done," it has done little to honor such admirable intentions," said Nasir Saeed, director of CLAAS UK, which provides free legal aid to victims of religious intolerance in Pakistan, well as shelter and financial support for the victims and their families. "Shazia was poor and a Christian so their inaction, although deeply disappointing, comes as little surprise.

"Like David against Goliath, this is shaping up to be a battle of right vs. might," Saeed added.

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TAGS: Pakistan Christian girl's murder Shazia Choudry Naeem child labor persecution

[03/16/2010]

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