Faisalabad, September 3, 2024 — Former Catholic priest Naveed Thomas was arrested in the courtroom after District and Sessions Judge Amjad Ali Bajwa cancelled his interim bail. Thomas is accused of threatening the Bishop of Faisalabad, Rehmat Indriyas, and brandishing a weapon at an employee at the Bishop's House.

Following the revocation of his bail, Thomas attempted to flee the court premises but was apprehended by police officers and bystanders and handed over to the Rail Bazar Police Station in Faisalabad. This arrest follows a second FIR filed against him for threatening to kill Bishop Rehmat.

Background

The controversy surrounding Naveed Thomas dates back to December 2023, when a 17-year-old Catholic girl, Sadda Shahzadi, from a small village in Faisalabad accused him of sexual assault. Shahzadi, a student of Intermediate in Computer Science (ICS), belonged to a devout Catholic family. Her father, Zulfiqar Bahadur, a labourer, trusted the church and its clergy implicitly.

Father Naveed, exploiting this trust, promised to arrange for the girl's education in the city and convinced her parents to let her stay at St. Pius X parish. However, what followed was a harrowing ordeal. According to FIR No. 1233/24, on December 13, 2023, Naveed, accompanied by Church catechist Elvin Masih, took Shahzadi to a parish in Chak Jhumra, where he enrolled her in an educational academy. Later that evening, Naveed forcibly assaulted her at gunpoint in a room on the parish premises. The girl, bleeding and terrified, was threatened with death if she spoke out, and the priest recorded videos of the assault to further intimidate her.

The abuse continued for over a month, leading to the girl's pregnancy. Naveed then arranged for an abortion with the help of a nurse named Zarina, violating the sanctity of the priesthood and the teachings of the Catholic Church. The ordeal only came to light when the girl escaped in February 2024 and confided in her family. Despite the family's pleas, neither the church nor the police took immediate action against Naveed Thomas. The church suspended him in February 2024, but legal action only began when the girl's father filed a complaint on June 22, 2024, leading to the registration of an FIR. However, Thomas managed to secure pre-arrest bail on June 25, 2024.

Naveed Thomas's arrest brings some hope for justice for the victim and her family but raises serious questions about the church’s handling of such grave allegations and the protection of vulnerable individuals.

Public Reaction

The arrest has sparked widespread condemnation. Emanuel Ghouri, Senior Vice President of the Pakistan Muslim League Minority Wing Punjab, criticized Naveed Thomas for his disrespectful language towards Bishop Rehmat Indryas, calling it intolerable. He further condemned Thomas's actions, stating that instead of defending himself against the rape allegations, Thomas had resorted to using derogatory remarks against the Bishop Indryas. Ghouri also highlighted that another case of cybercrime has been registered against Thomas for making viral videos. "We completely boycott him and demand his accountability," Ghouri stated in a message published on a popular Christian social media channel.

In Faisalabad, a meeting of the Church congregation was held, where activists, including Yashua Bhatti, condemned the actions of Naveed Thomas. Bhatti remarked, "If the shepherd himself devours his sheep, then the shepherd must be replaced." Other speakers, including activist Lala Robin, expressed their outrage and called for the education and training of future generations to be vigilant against those who defame the Church.

The arrest of former priest Naveed Thomas has not only shaken the local Christian community but also highlighted the need for greater accountability within religious institutions. The legal process will now determine the extent of his guilt and the consequences of his actions.