1. Safia (35) wife of Shahzad Masih resident of Sheikhupura committed suicide on June 21, 2006 by swallowing poisonous pills. The reason was reported to be the domestic disputes.

2. Depressed by domestic disputes Seema (30) wife of Niamat Masih resident of Sheikhupura reportedly set herself ablaze on 10 August 2006. She died in Mayo Hospital Lahore on August 15. NCJP report

3. Sarfaraz Rahat Masih, the Naib Nazim of union council 12, Gojra Tehsil committed suicide by jumping in-front of a train on March 23, 2006. Police source said that a letter was found from his pocket saying that the dispute between him and his brother disturbed him. Daily Dawn March 24, 2006

4. Mr. Shaukat, a Christian of Chak 328 Toba Tek Singh committed suicide by swallowing poisonous pills. He was depressed due to his financial problems.Daily Nawa-e-Waqt November 11, 2006

Honour Crimes

Pride and crime:

1. Habib Masih shot dead Amanat Masih of district Sheikhupura. The murderer wanted to marry the daughter of his relative. The victim had played a role in the girl’s engagement with another man from Lahore. In revenge Habib killed Amanat and escaped. Police had registered a case. Daily Nawa-e-Waqt March 26, 2006

Honour Killings

2. Manzoor Masih with accomplice Paul Masih strangled his wife on suspicion that she has illicit relations with one Muhammad Akram on September 2, 2006 at Chak 552/TDA district Muzaffargarh.

Murad Masih the elder brother of Manzoor registered an FIR at police station of Chawk Sarwar Shaheed. The accused were arrested. NCJP report

3. On March 2, 2006 Asim Anwar, a Christian of Lahore was abducted by Saleem Masih and Babar, also Christians. They tortured him very badly for ten days and killed him.

Saleem Masih suspected that Asim had illicit relations with his sister. After his arrest he admitted the crime. The body of the victim was handed over to his family. Daily Pakistan March 16, 2006

4. Manzoor Masih a labourer in Lahore gunned down his wife Shamim on the suspicion that she had an affair with the neighbor on August 25, 2006 and offered himself for arrest.Daily Times August 26, 2006

5. Lahore High Court commuted death sentence of Samuel Masih and Emmanuel Masih to life imprisonment. They had murdered Saleem Masih and Papu to revenge, their sister Maria’s abduction in the past.Daily Nawa-e-Waqt June 17, 2006

Sex crimes

Rape: Badin

Gori (8), a Christian girl of Badin was reportedly raped by Amir Matti on February 18, 2006.

Emmanuel who is neighbor of Gori called her at his house where he raped her. Amir Matti is a married man and father of a kid. Gori disclosed the matter to her elder sister and mother who took her to hospital. On February 24, 2006 an FIR was registered. Amir and Emmanuel were arrested. NCJP report

Lahore

Shahbaz, Mehmood, Nadeem and Shahzad barged into Sankara Masih’s residence at Herbunspura during the night in October. They abducted his 12 years old daughter Aroosa at gunpoint, raped her and left her unconscious. Police registered a case on the statement of the victim and one accused was arrested. Daily Pakistan October 8, 2006

Faisalabad

Mr. Mashooq Masih and his friend Mr. Asif Masih reportedly abducted Mehnaz Bashir (neighbor) of Mashooq Masih district Faisalabad on February 13, 2006. They took her to Gujrat at an unknown place and raped her for three days.On February 17, 2006 she was recovered by a villager. Girl’s father registered a case against Mashooq and Asif under section 10/11 of Hudood / Zina Ordinance. The accused Mashooq Masih provided fake marriage certificate, which showed that he had married the girl. The accused were not arrested because police was supporting them. On August 16, 2006 District and Session Judge declared them wanted. On October 4, 2006 arrest warrants of the accused were issued. Latter bail before arrest was approved by Additional Session Judge on October 9, 2006. The accused Mashooq filed a false counter case against Bashir Masih accusing him of misbehaving with his wife Mehnaz.                                                             NCJP report

Sodomy

On July 11, 2006 Stephen Lazar and Roofi Rafaqat reportedly sodomized Zeeshan Augustine, resident of a village Padari Jogath district Sanghar. The legal process was delayed; meanwhile the families of the accused involved the councilor for a compromise between them and victim’s family. On July 12, 2006 both families compromised.                                                       NCJP report

Sexual frustration - Sheikhupura

Sohail Masih (19) son of Yaqoob Masih of Sheikhupura tried to rape Sonia Amant (18) on July 11, 2006. Sonia went to nearby Church in the morning to offer prayers, Sohail who was already there tried to be physical with her. She shouted for help, some people reached the spot and saved her. When victim’s mother complained to the family of the accused, they defended their son. On the same day Sohail with Yaqoob and Amjad Masih came to the victim’s house beat her family and also threatened to abduct their daughter and kill them. An FIR was registered against the accused. NCJP report

Murder

Tanveer – Islamabad

On April 28, 2006 Akram Aslam, a Christian reportedly gunned down another Christian Tanveer Lakha at Sector G-8/4 Islamabad.

They had quarreled with one another about misdemamer with deceased’s relatives. On the day of incident they exchanged harsh words. Akram gunned Tanveer down with a pistol. He was taken to the hospital where he was declared dead. The accused was at large till this report. NCJP report

Murdered by in-laws – Lahore

Patras Masih of Youhanabad Lahore was murdered by his in laws. Wife of Patras went back to her parent’s house because of some disputes with her husband. When he went there for compromise he was murdered. However his in laws stated that they are not involved in the crime, someone else had killed him and left his dead body in front of their house. Daily Pakistan August 6, 2006

Man strangulated wife – Raiwind

On September 22, 2006 Maqsood Masih of Raiwind strangled his wife Sumaira Bibi (22) over some domestic issues. The accused was at large, however police registered the case. The News September 23, 2006

Akram Masih murdered his father

On April 15, 2006 Pretem Masih of Lahore was murdered by his son Akram Masih, over a domestic dispute. A case was registered on the statement of victim’s brother, but the accused was not arrested till this report.                                                          Daily Nawa-e-Waqt April 21, 2006

Abduction

Farhat – Sheikhupura

On August 15, 2006 Farhat (14) of Sheikhupura was allegedly abducted by Khalid, Patras and Idrees, related to her brother by marriage.

On the day of incident the accused came at victim’s house armed, kidnapped her, and stole 90,000 rupees and jewellery. An FIR was registered against the accused but no one was arrested. NCJP report

Tahira Awais - Sahiwal

Shani Masih, Christian man abducted Ms. Tahira Awais, a married woman. Police recovered her from his house. Shani tried to cover-up the abduction by his reported conversion to Islam. However, the Lahore High Court passed orders that the girl should be allowed to go with her family. Daily Pakistan August 12, 2006

Abduction of three – Sheikhupura

Sadiq Masih filed a complaint against Yousaf Masih, Imran Masih and Mushtaq Masih, alleging them abduction of his daughter Shamaila (16), granddaughter Razia (18) and niece Shabana (20). The police registered a case against the nine accused. Daily The News December 14, 2006

The Panchayat system – Yazman

On May 6, 2006 Ms. Naheed of Christian Colony Yazman married Khalid Masih without the consent of her parents. Naheed’s family called a Panchayat. The Panchayat asked Khalid to divorce Naheed, on his refusal Panchayat decided that Fauzia (21), Khalid’s sister should marry Sohail Masih (16) Ms. Naheed’s brother.

On May 24, 2006 Fauzia was married with Sohail forcibly. On the next day she demanded divorce. Naheed’s family and Panchayat members did not agree but later on, when they learnt that Fauzia’s family was planning to register Wani case against them, Fauzia was dispensed with a divorce.
NCJP report

Treatment with widow

Ms. Nargis, a widow of Pastor David Michael who lived in house given by the Church in Multan she was forced by Mr. Abid Chand (her brother in-law) to leave the house on pretext of moral turpitude in June 2006. After her husband’s death she lived in the house with her children. She reported that Abid, Imran and Kamran misbehaved with her and also disconnected the electricity despite that the bills were paid. She reported the situation to the police; however the matter was not solved till this report.                                                                                                                 NCJP report

Land dispute

Mr. Anayat Masih in charge of a local Presbyterian Church registered a complaint against Samuel Masih and his accomplices accusing them of damaging the roof of the church and also desecrated the Holy articles. The accused claimed that the land on which Church had been built belonged to them and the other group wanted to grab the land. However Pastor stated that the land was Church property. The court held the same in its verdict.                          Daily Pakistan January 27, 2006

Recommendations:

1. We strongly recommend that the government should provide subsidy to schools run by religious communities for mass literacy. Institutions such as education foundation established at provincial level should especially work on these lines.

We urge the minority community and their leadership to educate their members for sound and useful citizenship more intensely.