06 Jun 2023 00:00:00 AM Breaking News
Christian martyrs of Essa Nagri rememberedChristian man sentenced to death after blasphemy allegation Body of Christian sanitation worker recovered after two weeks 17-year-old Christian domestic worker kidnapped from Lahore Mehar Town Two Christian teenagers charged with blasphemy and sent to jailSchoolgirl killed after police officer opens fire at girls’ school Christian teenage girl kidnaped at gunpoint from her homeTwo school employees are charged with blasphemy for desecrating the Holy QuranCSOs perturbed at faltering Population Census 12-year-old Christian boy killed after kidnapping Pakistani Christians condemn Muslim MNA’s anti-Bible remarks Hyderabad Municipal Corporation Dismissed Christian Sanitary WorkersExperts are asking for changes to the Minorities Commission billChristian parents still struggling for recovery of their underage age daughterGovernment of Pakistan. Urged to strengthen pro-women laws to counter gender-based violence to protect women's rightsGovt. urged to expedite the adoption of protective law and activate institutionsChristians protest against forced conversion of Raja MasihPakistani Court sends young Christian girl to shelter instead of giving custody to her parents Pakistani man accused of blasphemy lynched by mob and his body dragged in the street Senator Michael walks out of the senate to protest minister’s behaviour at interfaith harmony conferenceChristian girl attacked with acid after refusing conversion to Islam and marriage Pakistan’s Christians criticise religious ministry’s seminar'The Shame of Pakistan': Blasphemy Accusers Courageous Christian Woman Stands Up to ThemLawyer and family denied access to imprisoned Christian accused of blasphemyPolitical parties urged to make concrete pledges and honour themZardari takes notice of accusation of blasphemy against Christian female security officer Young Christian domestic servant gang raped The Christian rights group launched its report on the situation of minority women in Pakistan 200 Christian families left homeless in Pakistan after CDA bulldozes their houses Pakistan: Human rights groups condemn custodial torture12-year-old Christian girl kidnapped, drugged and forced to marry Muslim man Accept Islam or be killed Christian Assistant Commissioner brutally attacked by group of lawyersPakistan: Christian sanitary worker accused of blasphemyPakistan: Christian schoolgirl escapes from her kidnapper Christian man beaten and threatened with death if he does not convert to IslamChristian woman went underground after being threatened with death if she didn’t convert to IslamChristian parents concerned about missing daughter Christians regain possession of the adjoining property of the ChurchThree Pakistani Christians accused of blasphemy granted bail.Hindu man arrested in Pakistan over alleged blasphemyJAC defends the vilification of CSOs especially Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) Pakistani Court’s Outrageous Ruling says 12-Year-Old Christian Girl Must Stay Married to 40-year-old and already Married Muslim AbductorForeign minister proposes constitution of ‘Oversight Committee’ to resolve issues Pakistani’s minoritiesTerrorists attack Christians in Mustang Pakistan: Christians fled their homes when Muslim mob gathers to attack themKidnapped 12-year-old Christian girl, recovered and reunited with her family Christian man sentenced to death for blasphemyPakistani Prime Minister approves formation of a task force to look after the implementation of minority rightsChristian woman loses three month pregnancy during attempted rapeHigh court grants bail to a mentally ill man accused of blasphemyInfluential landlords want to seize the Christian cemeteryChristian father-of-five killed and another critically injured in Punjab, Pakistan Pakistan: Punjab Government bans adverts for Christian-only condition for sweepers’ jobs 14-year-old Christian girl kidnapped on the way to school Fact-finding report on minority rights launchedI want to move back to Pakistan if I am given equal citizenship rightsOne dead and another injured after shootingBrave Christian girl thwarts kidnapping attempts Christian cousins survive being shot by their neighboursPakistani Christians mark 24th anniversary of Bishop John Joseph’s deathChristian human rights activist and journalist receives death threats Christian organisation demands ban on National Single Curriculum in Pakistan Christian man kidnaped at gunpoint from outside courtThieves vandalise church in Karachi Pakistan: Police officer insulted and his job threatened because of his Christian faithFour suspects, including two teenage girls, arrested after woman murdered for alleged blasphemyPolice fail to recover two teenage Christian girls kidnapped in Karachi Pakistan: Muslim man climbs over 40 ft high church cross and starts shouting “Allahu AkbarThe role of police and judiciary is biased in 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reform legislation to prevent the misuse of blasphemy laws13 people arrested for burning a disabled man aliveUS assessment of religious freedom in Pakistan is biasedChristian victim of blasphemy law acquitted after 10 years in jailA Pakistani Christian girl bravely escaped her abductors Pakistan minorities protest in Islamabad against rejection of forced conversion billLand mafia and police torture Christians in Mehran town, Karachi, to seize their land Minimum age for marriage not against Islam, court rules Pakistan’s parliamentary committee rejects anti-forced conversion billPakistan: High court rules non-Muslim children as young as 10 can convert to IslamSpecial police force created for the protection of minoritiesNGOs urge the EU to act over human rights abuses in Pakistan Husband throws hot water over the woman who converted to Islam to marry himChristian mother of four kidnaped on her way to homeCross removed from Church in Pakistan during the dedication.Anti-forced conversion bill draws concern from clerics Pakistan: Another Christian woman accused of blasphemy for forwarding a text UN designates day to commemorate victims of acts of violence based on religion Two Christian girls kidnapped at gunpoint outside their house Minor Christian girl forcibly converted to Islam recovered from kidnapper and sent to shelter homeNational Assembly passes unanimous resolution condemning attack on Hindu temple Another Christian girl kidnapped and converted to IslamPakistan’s blasphemy laws equated to ethnic cleansing, conference hears Quran now a compulsory in Punjab’s schools and collegesHindu woman should be returned to her parents after alleged forced marriage, court rulesPakistan court allows 2nd marriage of Christian man in Pakistan EU calls on Pakistan to intervene in release of blasphemy accusedReligious affairs ministry says religious conversion before 18 should be allowedPakistan: Christian girl raped at schoolAnother Christian Minor Girl Sent with her Abductor by the Pakistan High CourtPakistan: Muslim Doctor forcefully converts 13-year-old Christian girl to work in kitchenPakistani Supreme Court nationalises Christian college Christian couple acquitted of blasphemy charges Pakistani court send minor Christian girl with her abductor Bill before Sindh assembly calls for all 18-year-olds to be marriedTolerant majority needs to take charge of ending religious discrimination, retired Justice says Pakistan: Christian mother of five abducted and severely abusedChristian mother concerned her abducted daughter may be sold if not recovered soon Muslim nurses took over a chapel and threatened to convert it to a mosqueEU concerned over Pakistan’s rising blasphemy casesPakistan retained as country of particular concern in USCIRF report Sindh Assembly passes resolution condemning blasphemous caricaturesImran Khan says insulting Mohammed should be same as denying HolocaustTwo Pakistani Christian nurses charged with blasphemy offencesMother of kidnapped 13-year-old accuses police of not finding her daughter Pakistan: CDA demolishes church in Islamabad during LentPakistan: Petition filed to make the death penalty the only punishment for blasphemy in the Pakistan Penal CodePakistan: Police force pastor and congregation to shut down Church Christian man granted bail after blasphemy accusations Christian Family attacked by a Muslim land grabber Protests erupt after inmate charged with blasphemyJudge issued certificate needed for religious conversion, parliamentary committee proposesPrime Minister’s aide says there is no concept of forced conversion in PakistanTwo Christians charged under blasphemy law for distributing Christian literature Sentence of 5-10 years’ jail being considered for those involved in forced conversionCommittee rejects Protection of the Rights of Religious Minorities (PRRM) Bill Pakistan: Christian staff nurse and gospel singer accused of committing blasphemy Christian father begging police to help get his daughter backChristian girl threatens to burn herself if she doesn’t get justice Pakistan: Woman kills her husband and two daughters Two Christian sisters martyred for not converting to IslamThree Christians charged with blasphemy on Christmas DayA Christian man charged with blasphemy acquitted after 11 years Pakistan rejects US designation on religious freedom blacklistMuslim man shoots Christian woman dead for refusing to marry himPoliceman told Christian father to be happy for his daughter’s conversion to Islam instead of registering a case against the kidnapper Supreme Country unhappy over reconstitution of minorities’ commissionPakistan: Christian family foil attempt to kidnap their daughter Pakistani Senate panel to hold sessions on forced conversion in SindhMuslim man wants to forcefully marry Christian girlBill for minorities rejected by senate panelAnother Pakistani Christian woman escapes her kidnapperChristian hospital cleaner accused of stealing 2.2 million rupees worth of medicinePrime Minister Imran Khan calls for rapists to be hanged publicly PML-N demands public execution of those convicted in child sex abuse cases Man calling himself Jesus charged under the blasphemy law Pakistani Christian man sentenced to death for 'blasphemous texts'Christian mother and son 11 arrested after allegedly stealing gold and cash from employer’s house Police arrest Christian man accused of blasphemyPakistani Christian leaders condemn Quran burning in Sweden Pakistan: Annual pilgrimage at national Marian shrine in Mariamabad cancelledHuman Rights Watch asks Imran Khan to amend the blasphemy law Minor marriages and their conversion is an important issue, CII chairman saysNew curriculum to be implemented next year for grade one to fiveChristian domestic servant beaten for not converting to IslamPakistani Christian mother killed by police officerYoung Christian factory worker killed by his Muslim colleagueComplaints lodged against Saba Qamar and Bilal Saeed for committing blasphemyGovernor of Punjab announces opening of Mariamabad as tourist sitePakistan’s National Assembly adopts resolution for adding Quaid-e-Azam’s speech to syllabusOn National Minorities Day, President Alvi says minorities will be treated equally Pakistan National Assembly Unanimously Passes Resolution to Write Khatamun Nabiyyin With Hazrat Muhammad (SAW)Pakistani minorities mark National Minority Day with mixed feelingsPakistan’s Punjab Assembly passes resolution on Quaid’s Aug 11 speechPakistani legislators oppose bill they passed three weeks agoPakistani court sparks outrage by ruling Christian girl, 14, must stay married to alleged abductorPakistani Christian man charged with blasphemyUSCIRF outraged at courtroom killing of US citizen in Pakistan over blasphemy chargesMan accused of blasphemy In Pakistan shot dead at courtPakistan: Punjab govt asked to set minimum age of marriage for girls at 18Punjab Assembly passes bill allowing inspection of printing presses and confiscation of any publicationShould minorities leave Pakistan?Blasphemy complaint against opposition politician for saying ‘all religions are equalPakistan’s National Assembly adopts resolution for teaching Holy Quran with translation in universitiesPope 'saddened' as Hagia Sophia reverts to mosqueCouncil of Islamic Ideology in Pakistan will consider whether public funds can be used to build a Hindu templePakistani Christian man shot dead by neighbour for buying house in Muslim dominated areaIslamic seminary issues Fatwa against construction of Hindu Temple in IslamabadUniversity professor arrested under Blasphemy accusationMuslims attack a church and desecrate the Cross in PakistanChristian mother complains to Police about her daughter's abductionPakistani Minister calls for those who Blaspheme against Muhammad to beheadedHuman rights situation in Pakistan "Grealty worrisome”Pakistani Governor makes Quran teaching with translation compulsory in Punjab University

Another Christian Minor Girl Sent with her Abductor by the Pakistan High Court


July 1, 2021, the Lahore High Court sent another Christian minor girl with her abductor.  The abductor, Saddam Hussain, was more than twice the young girl’s age and already had three wives.

13-year-old Nayab Gill, her face covered with her scarf, came into the court heavily guarded.  Apart from her so-called husband Hussain, at least a dozen men and women surrounded her.   The judge, Sheram Sarwar Chowdhury, seemed unsurprised that there also were several police officers in tow.   The purpose of the ‘heavy’ squad – to support Hussain’s criminal act of converting a young Christian girl into Islam so he could marry her.

The other side of the case, however, only had three people.  Nayab’s parents Shahid and Samreen who sought the legal assistance of Christian lawyer Raiz Anjum.   The parents’ worn-out looks initially came with high hopes.  At the end of the day, they simply wanted to bring their daughter home.

But the Lahore High Court, to which they rested their clamor for justice, failed them.

Anjum started his argument by stating the Pakistani law Child Marriage Restraint Act of 1929.   He stressed that under the act, Nayab couldn’t enter into marriage before she reached sixteen.   To support his argument, he added that as a minor, Nayab was incapable of independent decisions.   Among such decisions were to convert from Christianity to Islam or any other religion, as well as marry a man a lot older than she was.   Citing the possibility of deciding to convert and marry under duress, Anjum presented the fact that Nayab had been living with Hussain’s family for some time. 

Justice Chowdhury, in response to Anjum’s allegation of coercion, asked Nayab to tell the court if anyone pressured or threatened her to convert to Islam or marry Hussain.  Nayab said that her decisions were her free will.
 
The judge pointed to Shahid and asked Nayab to identify the man.  After Nayab identified him as her father, Justice Chowdhury asked another question.  He asked with whom she wanted to go that day.  Nayab chose her husband.

Leveraging his decision on an Islamic principle that a girl who’s had her menstrual cycle was considered an adult, Justice Chowdhury allowed Nayab to go with her husband.  He even asked the police officers who came with Hussain to provide them security.

Leaving no stones unturned, Anjum cited a famous judgment at the Lahore High Court on August 2, 2019.  The judge, Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh, ruled that children under the age of fifteen lacked the capacity to change their religions independently.  As a result of his decision, the 14-year-old Muskan rejoined her Christian family.  She was recovered from a Muslim family after working there as a domestic worker for four years.

However, Judge Sarwar refuted Anjum’s citation as irrelevant.   The judge claimed that it was a different case, given that Muskan didn’t marry her alleged abductor.

The judge’s decision and Nayab’s statements sent the parents to an emotional spiral.  I approached the father and asked how he felt about the case’s result.  Nearly in tears, he admitted that he wasn’t ready to express his sentiments other than feeling that he lost everything.  As if requesting his wife to answer for him, he pointed to Samreen.

Disappointment painted across her face, Samreen shared that before they came to court, they had high hopes that justice would be served by the Lahore High Court.  Instead, religion (Islam) once again triumphed over Pakistani laws.

She added that her daughter was too young to understand what was happening in her life nor everything that transpired inside the court.  Likewise, Samreen believed that Nayab may have been brainwashed.  She strongly felt that instead of sending Nayab back to Hussain, the judge should have decided that they bring their daughter home.  Another better option would have been to send her to the Darul Amaan (shelter home).   The time away from Hussain and his family would have allowed Nayab to think her decisions through.

However, she stressed that their fight to win their daughter back wasn’t over, even if they had to sell their property.  Through the assistance of The Edge Foundation, a Christian organization that supports the development and equal rights of children, women, and minorities, she intended to bring their case to the supreme court.  The organization had been providing them with legal assistance and other support. 

Anjum mirrored the disappointment of Nayab’s parents.  He shared his sentiments about the contradicting scenarios of laws and religion in Pakistan.  Under the law, children below sixteen weren’t allowed to have an ID card, a driver’s license, or sign legal documents.  In most courts, however, leveraging Islamic laws had dominated most judges’ decisions, even if those decisions ran contrary to Pakistani laws.  Like Nayab’s parents, he intended to appeal Justice Chowdhury's decision to the supreme court.

Dr. Naeem Saleem, Director of The Edge Foundation shared that the decision saddened not just him and Nayab’s parents but the whole Pakistani Christian community who believed in equality and human rights.  He expressed his concern that despite the alarming rise of similar cases, the government nor the judiciary didn’t lift a finger.  He further stressed that in the 21st century, Islamic laws should no longer justify young girls being taken away from their parents.

Remembering the cases of Maira Shahbaz and Mahwish who escaped their abductors despite their similarity to Nayab’s case, the state should act.

Since Pakistan already ratified United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), and other international treaties, the state should adopt internal measures and laws that run parallel with such treaties’ agreements.  And when the Pakistani government fails, the courts of justice and national authorities should invoke international laws if their resolutions contradict national regulations.

However, said scenarios are yet to happen.   And as a result, people are pushed to the wall, encouraging us to seek the helping hands of international communities.   This was what exactly happened in Nayab’s case – ignored and disrespected international standards on human rights.

At this point, I’m requesting the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan to intervene in Nayab’s case.   As it is, Pakistan already ranks high in human rights violations and the maltreatment of minorities.  And sadly, it also is the fifth most dangerous country in the world for Christians.

Pakistan’s image is in dire need of salvation, especially at an international level.  The EU already issued warnings while the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) designated Pakistan as a Country of Particular Concern for the violation of religious freedom.  If the country doesn’t collectively act now, it might be too late.