A Christian Girl Allegedly Raped In Karachi’s Christian Cemetery, Victim Intimidated To Remain Silent

A Pakistani, Christian girl named Tina was sexually assaulted in Christian cemetery in Pakistan’s metropolitan city Karachi. The victim claims that she filed an application against the perpetrators and demanded that justice should be served, however she said that after approaching a local activist and a government department her application has been considered.

In a social media video that met with agitation and annoyance over this incident, the victim named two perpetrators Raja Robert Francis and Anwar Sardar. She detailed that she was sexually assaulted in Karachi’s Christian cemetery Gora Qabaristan.  During this video, it was revealed that after she was assaulted, the perpetrators tried to silence her by threatening to kill her. Whenever, she tried to take action against them, they harassed her and even blackmailed her.

The victim claims that when she filed an application against the culprits, no one paid heed to her plea. In her desperation, she even tried to commit suicide the video details. Consequently, she approached a local NGO and Sindh Commission On The Status Of Women where she was succored. As a result, Sindh Commission On The Status Of Women referred her application to the police station. However, it was status that the Christian community did not lend a helping hand to her.

A local human rights defender and activist stated that the NGO contacted her with reference to this case. Further detailing her case, the activist said that the victim had filed her application on August 4, but no action was taken, later on August 12, the victim visited the police station again but the police showed reluctance in helping her.

On the other hand, wife of Raja Robert filed an application against the victim alleging that she had committed serious crimes. When the victim approached the Police Station, she was pressurized to back off. The police warned her that action will be taken against her. When the local activist met with the concerned SHO, she was informed that this application was fabricated and will be torn. However, she said that I am sure that they will not discard that application.

The activist also complained that a local Christian lawmaker Lal Din is taking sides with the perpetrators instead of helping the victim. She said that the culprits had constructed houses and offices within the premises of Gora Qabaristan. The victim claims that the culprits had kept her confined in the Gora Qabaristan for two months. She said that after she fled her application, two women named Raja and Babra harassed and intimidated her, as they tried to coerce her to remain silent and not take action against the alleged culprits and withdraw her application. Another man, named Noel Ijaz also tried to intimidate her to withdraw her application. The police allegedly asked her withdraw her application first, consequently, wife of Raja Robert will be asked to take her application back.

Tina said that she is a witness that Raja and Babra bring women in Gora Qabaristan where they give body massages to Raja Robert. She said that she is being intimidated by everyone; however the NGO she approached and the local activist now involved in this case have lent a helping hand to her.