Protest against murder, kidnap

Demonstrates condemn the forced conversion of a 14-year-old Christian girl and the murder of her father

FAISALABAD: Scores of protesters led by the Minorities Alliance of Pakistani Christians and the National Commission for Justice and Peace staged a demonstration on Saturday to condemn the forced conversion of a 14-year-old Christian girl and the murder of her father.

They carried placards inscribed with slogans demanding arrest of the culprits. They also demanded action against several police officials whom they accused of protecting the criminals.

Simon Khurshid, director of the National Commission for Justice and Peace, addressed the rally. Lala Robin Daniel was also present.

The speakers called for an impartial probe into the kidnapping and murder.

Daniel told newsmen that on March 12, a Muslim family had approached Mehwish’s family and asked for her services at a party.

“They assured her family that she would return home after the party and would be paid handsomely,” he said. He said when the girl did not return, Tanveer Masih, her father, approached the employer and inquired about her.

“He was told that the girl had been sent to another place for more work and would return in a few days,” he said.

He said when the girl still did not return, Tanveer asked his neighbours for help.

He said on May 10, he moved an FIR at the Razabad police station

“Soon after the case was registered, they offered to return Mehwish if he withdrew his complaint,” he said. “They lured him to an abandoned house where they shot and killed him,” he said.

His widow Najma Bibi said her daughter occasionally worked as a housekeeper at Muhammad Iqbal’s house in village Rashidabad on Jhang Road. She said he had kidnapped her daughter.

“I have two daughters and both of them work in several houses earn their livelihood. My husband was rickshaw driver,” she said.

Arshad, a brother-in-law of the deceased, said on May 30, a panchayat had been held in Nazimabad. It was decided that the girl would be returned to her parents if they withdrew the case against Iqbal.

“The same night, Tanveer was asked to pick Mehwish from Saddar Bypass. He was shot and killed there,” he said.

Najma told newsmen that a marriage certificate was then presented by the suspects to police. “They told them that Mehwish had converted and had married Iqbal’s son,” she said.  “They mentioned her age as 19 years in the certificate, although she is 14 years old,” she said. She urged the chief minister to take notice of the case and order police to take action against the suspects. Police Spokesman Mian Amir Waheed told The Express Tribune that police was collecting evidence for both cases. He said arrests would be made soon.

Talking to The Express Tribune, Muhammad Iqbal denied the allegations. “Mehwish married my son with her free will. She converted of her own choice as well.”

He said her family was pressuring him for money. He said her father’s death was unrelated to this incident. “I will cooperate with police in their investigation regarding the case.”

Published in The Express Tribune, July 31^st, 2016.