Betrayed by Religion: A Story of Braveness within the Face of Injustice

In June 2024, our group was concerned within the case of a 19-year-old Christian Lady whose life would endlessly be altered by the very particular person meant to information and defend her – Catholic Priest Naveed Thomas. This isn’t only a story of a heinous crime however a harrowing journey by a labyrinth of corruption, betrayal, and surprising energy.

The case of the younger Catholic lady raped by Priest Thomas shortly grew to become a Gordian knot of complexities. As our group stepped in to assist, we discovered ourselves navigating treacherous waters. Wielding his affect like a weapon, Thomas manipulated witnesses and swayed native legislation enforcement. Much more stunning was the betrayal from inside – a few of the sufferer’s relations started to aspect with the accused, making use of suffocating stress on the household to desert their pursuit of justice.

Betrayal:

However the betrayal didn’t finish there. Enter Salmat Tabbasum, a self-proclaimed pastor and physician who initially appeared as an ally. Our group, trusting his credentials and obvious goodwill, despatched him 500,000 PKR to help the sufferer’s household. What adopted was a masterclass in duplicity. Tabbasum pocketed the cash after which dared to stress the household into settling the case for a mere 1.5 million PKR. The household’s refusal to be silenced was a beacon of braveness on this darkening story.

Because the case unfolded, it uncovered the rot that typically festers even in essentially the most sacred establishments. Tabbasum, removed from being a person of God, revealed himself as a wolf in shepherd’s clothes. Becoming a member of forces with Imran Masih, a relative of the sufferer, he orchestrated a sequence of threats and bribes, even going as far as to plot towards the sufferer’s brother, Salmon.

As after the incident along with his sister, Salmon returned to Faisalabad, leaving his belongings and important objects, together with a checkbook, in Islamabad. Imran took a verify and gave it to Salamat Tabassum; nonetheless, they performed a unclean trick, ensuing within the verify being bounced. They then utilized to file a First Data Report (FIR), claiming that she owed them 16 lakh 50 thousand rupees and that this verify had been offered beneath these pretenses. In actuality, the household by no means borrowed any cash from Salamat Tabassum or engaged in any transactions with him.

The Position of Police: Court docket Order

The household was alerted to the incident when the police contacted Zulfikar Masih (father) to tell him that the verify in query belonged to his son and that he wanted to pay 1.6 million rupees to Salamat Tabassum. In response, the household went to the police station to elucidate that that they had no dealings with Salamat.

Zulfiqar Masih knowledgeable the police that his son’s verify had been stolen in Islamabad. Imran then took the verify and handed it to Salamat, who, in collaboration with Imran, used it to sabotage his daughter’s case. They supposed to blackmail and stress the household right into a settlement within the case and reconcile with Priest Naveed Thomas.

When the police have been knowledgeable about the complete incident, they requested the household to supply proof to dismiss the appliance. Whereas the household was involved with the financial institution and their relations to collect this proof, Salamat Tabassum requested an FIR from the courtroom to extend the stress on each the police and the courtroom, which the courtroom granted.

Subsequently, when our group grew to become concerned, we submitted a movement to the Excessive Court docket looking for a re-investigation. We argued that the check-in query was stolen and that Salamat Tabassum used this example purely to use stress. In distinction, he obtained 5 hundred thousand rupees from our group as help, which was by no means delivered to the household.

Yesterday, the Lahore Excessive Court docket ordered an instantaneous forensic examination and directed the police to submit a report inside 5 days.

Salamat Tabassum and Imran Masih, who’re each along with Naveed Thomas, continuously stress and threaten the household to reconcile and settle the case in order that Naveed could be restored within the Diocese of Faisalabad earlier than the election of the brand new Bishop.

Though Naveed Thomas claimed that he by no means had any relationship with this lady if he have been truthful, he would by no means have tried to silence this household by such lies, baseless and fabricated tales, and threats. The reality on this case is that Naveed Thomas raped a 19-year-old Catholic lady, Sada Shahzadi, and destroyed her life. After which used numerous strategies to intimidate the persecuted household.

Even on this state of affairs, the household stood agency on this tsunami of corruption and betrayal. Even because the system appeared to conspire towards them, their regular pursuit of justice is a testomony to the indomitable human spirit. The latest order by the Lahore Excessive Court docket for a forensic examination brings a spark of hope, however the street forward stays lengthy and fraught with hazard.

This case serves as a token of the challenges confronted by Christian communities in Pakistan. It exposes not simply the exterior threats they face but additionally the inner conflicts that may tear communities aside. The actions of males like Tabbasum, who exploit religion for private acquire, solid lengthy shadows over the real work of these striving to make a distinction.

In the long run, Allow us to stand with this Persecuted household, pray for his or her security, and work in the direction of making a society the place nobody is above the legislation.