Girl raped in church seeks protection, justice
By Saad Saud

ISLAMABAD—Government should publicly condemn the rape of 13 years old Christian girl, raped in a Church and the case should be trial in Anti terrorist court. Rape of innocent girl in the Church has hurt the religious sentiments of Christians through out the country. These views were expressed by All Pakistan Minorities Alliance (APMA) Chairman, Mr. Shahbaz Bhatti while addressing a press conference at Rawalpindi Islamabad Press club (Camp office) along with victim girl, her family and her lawyers.
Mr. Bhatti said, "It is commonly known that terrorist attacked Mosques and Churches to gun down innocent worshipers but it is first incident of its kind where a Christian girl Rukhsana Anwar is raped in the Church at Yazman, District Bahawlpur. It is immoral and shameful act and a gruesome crime which should be condemned by all faiths and sections of society".
Mr. Bhatti elaborated the incident that Rukhsana D/O Anwar Masih, on 30 July 2005 at 9:OOpm, was coming alone from her Aunt's house, Mrs. Arshad Masih, resident of the same village, Chak No 110 D.B. Yazman (District Bahawalpur). On her way to house, she was stopped by Mohammad Nazir Ahmed who was carrying a gun. He grabbed her and coercively took her inside Church through its window as the Church was closed at that time. When she resisted, the abductor threatened to kill her and raped her inside the Church. Means while people in the surrounding gathered on hearing the cries of Rukhsana. They came to rescue her but the perpetrator waved his gun in the air and threatened to kill anyone who tried to get hold of him and escaped. Rukhsana was left bleeding and in semi conscious state.
The victim family was pressurized and threatened by the culprit family, not to register a case but despite of threats and pressure, victim family was able to register a case at Yazman police station, District Bahawalpur on 3rd August 2005, FIR No. 375/2005, under section 11-10/79, Zina ordinance. Victim family and people of the area also submitted an application through lawyers to the police for inclusion of sections of penal code in the FIR against the culprit for disgracing the sanctity of Church and for hurting the religious sentiments of the Christians, where as police ignored the application and did not modify the FIR.
Mr. Bhatti said, "Now culprit family and relatives are threatening the victim family and witnesses to withdraw the case or face dire consequences. In this atmosphere of fear, harassment and threats pastor Binyamin has already left the area to save his life and victim family continue to seek protection and justice".
APMA Chief lamented that no government authority has condemned the incident nor paid heed to the plight of victim family to redress their grievances although this incident is published in the newspapers and government authorities were also contacted. The official negligence and irresponsibility has encouraged the perpetrators to continue to commit such heinous crimes and incidents of discrimination, victimization, violence and harassment of minorities and women.
He said, "Every religion teaches to maintain the sanctity of worship places but in this case, the culprit violated all moral and religious restraints by disgracing a Church, which is being totally ignored by the police and authorities."
Mr. Bhatti said, "All Pakistan Minorities Alliance (APMA) strongly condemns this tragic incident and gruesome crime, which should also be condemned at all levels".