Young Christian woman seeks justice after rape at gunpoint in Pakistan; police refuse to arrest suspect
LAHORE, Pakistan — An 18-year-old Catholic woman in Pakistan has accused authorities of failing to arrest a Muslim man who abducted and raped her at gunpoint on November 7.
Imaan Khurrum, from the Kot Ranjeet Singh area in Sheikhupura District, Punjab Province, told *National News Nama* that Ansar Shah abducted her as she was returning home from work at a shoe factory. Shah allegedly took her to an abandoned brick kiln, where he assaulted and raped her. The kiln had been closed due to hazardous smog in the area.
Speaking to a Christian news channel on YouTube, Khurrum recounted how Shah ambushed her on a deserted street, forcing her onto his motorcycle. When she resisted, he threatened her and her two younger brothers with a pistol.
“He threatened to kill my brothers and forced me to sit on his motorcycle,” Khurrum said, her voice trembling and face veiled in the video. “At the kiln, he dragged me into a room, tore my clothes, and raped me. He also slapped and beat me repeatedly.”
For over four months prior to the attack, Shah had reportedly harassed her on her way to work, despite complaints from her family to his relatives. The harassment persisted unabated, she said.
Khurrum’s mother, Sana, said their financial struggles, exacerbated by her husband’s abandonment two years ago, left them vulnerable. “My daughter was targeted because we are poor and weak Christians,” she said in the video.
Despite the family’s pleas, police have not arrested Shah. According to Khurrum’s uncle, Morris Nazir, Shah remains free, and law enforcement officers released two of his relatives after allegedly accepting bribes.
“It’s been a week since the attack, but Shah has not been arrested,” Nazir said. “His family is pressuring us to withdraw the First Information Report, and the police’s inaction shows they are influenced by his family.”
Nazir called on government officials, including Punjab’s chief minister and the inspector general of police, to intervene and ensure Shah’s arrest. “Justice must be served, or other Christian girls will also be at risk of similar attacks,” he said.
Advocates for minority rights in Pakistan highlight systemic barriers to justice for marginalized groups, including financial constraints and discrimination.
Christian attorney Lazar Allah Rakha emphasized the need for equitable justice, stating, “It is the responsibility of the state to ensure all citizens have access to justice regardless of their faith. The current majority-versus-minority narrative undermines this principle.”
Pakistan remains a challenging environment for religious minorities, ranking seventh on Open Doors’ 2024 World Watch List of the most difficult places to be a Christian.