Note: Face and Identity not revealed due to reasons of victim's safety.
Reported on 28th July 2019, Punjab, Pakistan. A married Christian girl who works with an
event management marketing team emerged on scene in Lahore unfolding the facts
that she was abducted, threatened and raped by her superior Faizan Farooq.
The Girl was deceived by Faizan
Farooq who abducted her through an office invitation to attend a company’s
event planned at Islamabad. Faizan sent a car (cab service) to pick her
and bring her to desired location. Initially he tried to motivate the girl
through greed and promises of riches stating that he’s a rich man and is able
to provide her every financial need if she engages with him in sexuality. The
girl refused because she was already married and loyal to her husband and did
not want to create any immoral relation. Faizan Farooq pulled out blades,
knives, gun from closet and started threatening her, further more threatened to
have her family killed as well. After encircling her with the imagination
of unknown consequences the girl became so fearful that she lost the urge to
resist or scream as Faizan Farooq raped her.
Fortunately she came back home
alive. Initially she was hesitant to register a complaint against Faizan but
her family stood by her side and decided to fight this oppression legally
through Judicial proceedings. The girl went to the police station but
unfortunately her complaint was not registered and she was diverted towards the
procedure of medical and other obligations. After medical test she was mislead
by both police and hospital administrations applying delaying tactics in handing
over the required medical report which was declared essential by Police
officials to register a rape case against Faizan Farooq.
The girl and her family lost hope due
to the systematic discrimination that exists in almost every institution of Pakistan
for Christian complainants while their efforts to acquire justice. Police officials
were applying delaying tactics by stating that Hospital administration is going
to handover the medical report; Hospital administration were stating that Police
officials are going to handover the medical report. Finally No report was
handed over and no police complaint was registered for almost a month.
Fortunately the girl had downloaded
and installed a Government’s complaint management system application through
which she highlighted this deliberate negligence of Police and Hospital
department and finally her official complain was registered at Police station after
the notice and involvement of senior level Police officials and Punjab’s Human
Rights & Minority Affairs which resulted in the arrest of Faizan Farooq.
The family of Faizan Farooq has
approached the victim girl and her family. Faizan’s family is applying the same
tactics their son applied to rape the girl. They are offering the girl riches
and money if she withdraws her complaint and also threatening swear
consequences if the complaint is not withdrawn. Yes,” It runs in the
family”.
Although the situation of oppressed
Christian girls, adults and children is very depressing but there are some
visible positive changes regarding this situation which are essential to be mentioned
as well. The newly elected government of Pakistan Tehreek Insaf (PTI) has
introduced some measures to keep check and balance through an official
complaint system which responds immediate attention and support to many
neglected case such as this one. Additionally the involvement of higher ranked
Police officials and Minister of Human Rights and Minority Affairs is a healthy
sign as well. Furthermore the victim girl and her family has shown great
courage to stand against this oppression and are on their way to acquire
justice through legal judicial process.
Along with all the positive measure
the situation at grassroots community level requires far more attention due to
the fact that only 22% of Pakistan’s overall population has access to internet.
Only 58% of the entire population is basic literate, Hence out of 22% of
internet users only 10 to 15 % are literate enough to navigate through internet
applications. And if these figures are narrowed down to Christian population it
is even much lower as it is observed that literacy rate among Christian
population in Pakistan is very low. It is also a fact that more than 90% abuse and
oppression cases are not even highlighted because victims do not show the same
courage to highlight the issue on social media because it is a cultural norm
that woman are considered a symbol of honor and dignity in Pakistan and many
victims do not find the courage to disclose their problems with family and
society.
So in response to above mentioned
concern the Law and Health Minister Punjab must be questioned for their command
and control system on their departments at grassroots communities’ level. Both
Ministers should be questioned, How come a Police station did not registered an
official complaint of a rape victim for one month. How come the Hospital
administration did not hand over the medical report to a rape victim. These questions
must be raised and responded. How and
when the Christians and Other Religious Minorities are going to experience
equal rights and end to this systematic discrimination in Pakistan?
But overall there are few healthy
signs and current government of Pakistan Tehreek e Iinsaf (PTI) must be given
their share of credit for their efforts to reach the masses through internet
applications.
Now our Christian girl is standing
firm on her stance to test the judicial system of Pakistan & to see how the
Justice shall be served; on her behalf we request all the moral and political
support from our Global Christian family regardless of any boundary and limits because
we are One in Christ. Additionally we are grateful to Christian
Journalist/Activist Saleem Iqbal for going all the way and providing us the
girl’s statement and highlighting this situation which we have translated in
English text for your convenience, please see the Video shared above.
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