Slum dwellers endure without Water, Gas and Electricity in the capital

By – Shamim Masih

view of the Slum area

ISLAMABAD: Christians around the world are all set to celebrate the joyous occasion of Christmas with religious zeal in the midst of the echoing of church bells that announce the birth of our Lord Christ Jesus. But slum dwellers of the capital will remain endure without water, Gas and Electricity during the freezing cold weather when the temperature falls down to freezing point. Islamabad, the city of elites and these elite enjoys a cosseted life waited on by maids, cooks and chauffeurs drawn from the ranks of the slum-dwellers. And slum dwellers are of the working class populations, who make this city run, the construction workers, the drivers, the cooks and many more are cleaners. Slums dwellers, largely populated by Christians and Afghan refugees usually live in or across the seasonal drainage in the capital, Islamabad.

Slum people demanding for basic rights

The authorities in Islamabad had declared war on the slums, saying they are illegal and safe haven for militants. These localities were not built overnight. If it is illegal, why did Capital Development Authority – CDA officials not stop them when they started building? The officials reportedly take bribe to let the settlement stay. There is no gas, no electricity and no pure water for drinking provided by the authorities. Constitution of the country says every citizen is equal and has equal rights on all facilities available such as electricity, water, gas and other needs of life. Then why the residents of slums only, are deprived and have no access to these facilities of life. Minorities are being forced to face injustice at each and every step of life. The climate of Islamabad has a typical version of humid subtropical climate, with five seasons: Winter, spring, summer, Rainy monsoon and autumn. Winter (Nov - Feb), the coolest month is December and January, with temperatures variable by location. In Islamabad, temperatures vary from cold to mild, routinely dropping below zero. In the hills there is sparse snowfall. During winter weather becomes quite chilly in December too.

The slum people have more right of housing as they are the employees of CDA. There is need of radical strategy to establish a cell in the slums to sort out and resolve their problems. Unfortunately Pakistan suffered by civil, judicial and military bureaucracy. Therefore issues of katchi abadies were not resolved in its true spirit and the non serious attitude of government delayed the active process of implementation. Even UN-Habitat which is dealing with slums has ensured the full support but has not done anything practical.

Persecution against Christian is often enacted under the guise of the blasphemy law as well as other instances of harassment and discrimination. Forced conversions, kidnappings, damage to areas of worship, sexual assault and targeted killings all come under the rubric of oppressive practices that minorities are routinely subjected to. Many incidents of religious incitement of varying magnitudes have been reported in several parts of the country. State authorities should play due role for change; and should take serious measures to establish peace and harmony in the society.

Lecherous men gang rapped two Christian girls

Lecherous men gang rapped two Christian girls

By – Shamim Masih

ISLAMABAD: Sehrish 18 and Farazana 14 were forcibly rapped by lecherous Muslim men in District Jaranwala couple of days back but police avoid registering FIR in this regard.

 According to the details, Sehrish and Farazana daughters of Ilyas Masih went to nearby fields for an outdoor toilet. While there were several very aggressive and lecherous Muslim men Sijad, Azeem, Asif, and Akbar etc grabbed them and took them deeper into local woods, where two teenage virgin girls were gang raped. The men laughed and mocked the girls as they took away their innocence, stating this is fate of poor Christian girls. The girls than had to make their own way home running scared and half naked after terrifying ordeal.

When they told their parents what happened to them, their father Ilyas Masih, resident of Chack no. 651/2 immediately went to the local Police Station. Yet despite pleading for justice the local police refused to register a First Investigation Report – FIR but tried to coerce the father to reach a compensation agreement with men who had scarred his daughters for life. The father stated that the police were extremely aggressive with him in their attempts at reaching an unlawful compromise between him and the perpetrators of the vicious attack on his daughters. Then he has pursued the matter through the local courts and civil judge Kamran has ordered for a medical examination to be undertaken on the poor defenseless girls, who have been physically shaken by the event.

According to the latest report FIR no. 552/14 has been registered and Sijad has been arrested and rests are fugitives. This is to mention here that in rural areas of the Pakistan there is no defecation and urination facility in the houses and usually poor people have to use communal cesspit as an outdoor toilet for urination. Basharat Khokhar said that this is very common that aristocracy treat poor girls as their slaves. There are many cases that are not being reported. And the poor class is being exploited everywhere. Pakistani Christian needs to be strengthening economically, he added.    

Even now as I write this piece the father advised me that threats are being made to him, his friends and his family. However, he will keep his resolve and will get justice for his daughters. He said that God will see them through this difficult period.

 

Asia Bibi filed final option in SC filed

Asia Bibi filed final option in SC filed

By – Shamim Masih

ISLAMABAD: Christian woman, Asia bibi, filed an appeal in the Supreme Court after being rejected from the Lahore High Court – LHC, last month. On behalf of her Saif ul Malook, attorney to Asia Bibi have filed a petition in the apex court on Monday in Lahore.

According to details, Asia Parveen known as Asia Bibi was sentenced to death on November, 2010 after the court declared that she has committed blasphemy during an argument with Muslim women over a bowl of water.

The request was filed to reconsider deficiencies in the case which include poor investigation and manipulated evidence by the local police.

Sohail Johnson, chairman Sharing Life Ministry Pakistan – SLMP said that we are providing legal assistance in this case as well as her family and hoping the early hearing of the appeal and believe that SC will review the case on the basis of fact. He requested the Christians community around the world to pray for her early hearing.  

Earlier this month, Aashiq Masih, husband of Asia Bibi asked President Mamnoon Hussian for her pardon and allows her to move to France. He also wrote an open letter which was published in the New York Times on November 17.

Blasphemy has become highly sensitive issue in the country; Salman Taseer Governor Punjab was killed by his own official security guard in the same issue. Saif ul Malook have also been to attorney in the Salman Taseer case.

Despite the fact that Pakistan has never put to death any individual for blasphemy even if court declared individual guilty but anyone convicted or even just accused, of insulting Islam, hazards the violent along with the bloody death at the hands of vigilantes.      

Qaiser Ayub, held over blasphemy allegation sent to jail

Qaiser Ayub, held over blasphemy allegation sent to jail

By – Shamim Masih

ISLAMABAD: After a week of the burning of Christian couple to death in Kot Radha Kishan, Punjab police have arrested Qaiser Ayub, 40, from Lahore over an alleged act of blasphemy. According to the sources, a Christian man, holding masters degree in computer sciences, blogger and used to run a website was booked for blasphemous remarks. Sources told that a Christian man was alleged of using derogatory language against the Holy Prophet in his blogs.

Mohammad Saeed, complained and filed an application in city Police Station against the accused and case was registered First Investigation Report – FIR no. 105/11 under section 295-C in PS. Talagan, Distt. Chakwal. The accused went in hiding after the registration of the FIR against him for couple of years. On 14 November, 2014, Chakwal police arrested him from Lahore and presented him in the court on 15 November in Talagang. According to police FIR was registered on June 9, 2011 and man was arrested after three and half years.

According to police officials, Qaiser is alleged of drawing sketches against Islam on his blogs.  

According to Sohail Johnson, chairman Sharing Life Ministry Pakistan – SLMP, family of Qaiser Ayub his wife Amina Bibi and three children 12, 5 years and third one is of 9 months old,  are in safe custody. SLMP will be taking care of his family and his case as well. The organization is arranging legal assistance for his case.

Jabbar Hussian – SP Rawalpindi range is appointed to investigate the case, sources confirmed. Qaiser Ayub is shifted to jail for his judicial investigation. Police is trying to hide the secret of the case investigation and requested the media person to keep it in low profile, sources confirmed.

Where are UNHCR and David Miliband?

Where are UNHCR and David Miliband?

By – Shamim Masih

ISLAMABAD: In Joseph Colony over 160 Christian homes were destroyed and those arrested were quickly released on bail with no further progress reported on their trail. The sole Christian charged, Sawan Masih and was given the death sentence in a rare display of speed justice. More than 300 Christian families remained in the streets for couple of months. Same number of houses was burnt in Gojra and Christian displaced families were left to wonder in nearby streets. And during the most recent inci

Displaced families of Kot Radha Kishan en-rout unknown place

dent in Kot Radha Kishan, where we have seen the horrifying case of the killing and burning of a young Christian couple left six Christian displaced families. And ten Christian families in the village Check no.59 can be targeted at any time. Many Christian displaced families of Rimsha case are still living in tents in H-9 sector Islamabad.

According to UNHCR, around 35 million uprooted people are living in a state of flight from conflict and persecution, while many other millions have been displaced by natural disasters.

An internally displaced person –IDP is someone who is forced to flee his or her home but who remains within his or her country’s borders. They are often referred to as refugees, although they don’t fall with the current legal definition of a refugee. IDPs are among the most vulnerable victims of conflict. Like refugees, they have fled fighting or human rights abuses but, unlike them, they have not crossed an international border. UNHCR’s original mandate does not specifically cover IDPs, but because of the agency’s expertise on displacement, it has for many years been protecting and assisting millions of them, more recently through the “cluster approach.” UNHCR has the lead role in overseeing the protection and shelter needs of IDPs as well as coordination and management of camps.  

Mr. Miliband, who is President of International Rescue Committee - IRC, which is a global humanitarian aid, relief and development NGO which offers emergency aid and long-term assistance to refugees and those displaced by war, persecution or natural disaster is on his visit to Pakistan and have been meeting with high level leadership of the country.

Going by past instances, members of minority communities are persecuted – and prosecuted in Pakistan. Thousands are forced to live in utter destitution, without adequate access to food, jobs, healthcare, and education. But we have seen that neither UNHCR nor IRC have ever since bothered to take care of these IDPs, while it has been assisting million other. Isn’t it the biased attitude of UNHCR and IRC towards Pakistani Christians?

 As citizens, they retain all of their rights and protection under both human rights and international humanitarian law. Unfortunately prosecution is on while perpetrators are set free. The administration and the judiciary are responsible for this unjust state of affairs. If the perpetrators of previous incidents of religious extremism such as Gojra, Kasur, Joseph Colony and blasphemy case against minor Rimsha have been held accountable, no one would have dared to commit such crime again. Transgressors of law do so with impunity and are further encouraged when they are evicted with any penalty. I don’t see any future for Pakistani Christians, when they are prosecuted in their own country and ignored by UN and west as well.