Brother Bubba's Journal

February 1, 2010

MONDAY OF THE FOURTH WEEK OF ORDINARY TIME
+Feast of St. Bridgid [Bride] of Ireland (523), Virgin, Patroness of Dairy Workers
+Feast of St. Ignatius of Antioch (107), Bishop, Martyr (TRAD)

My Beloved:

A Christian twelve-year-old house maid is tortured to death by her employers in Lahore, Pakistan

Shazia, a twelve-year-old Christian girl was badly tortured to death by her employer, Muhammad Naeem, a Muslim lawyer and former President of Lahore Bar Council. Shazia was the family house maid. Naeem’s family participated in the torture and murder.

According to reports, Mr. Amanat Masih, a poor Christian, employed his daughter, Shazia, at the lawyer’s house with the promise that she would be cared for and educated while serving the family as house maid. Shazia was given duties to clean the house, cook for the family for three times a day, wash clothes and take care of the sick of the family. She had no weekend leaves not even on Christmas or Easter. For her labours she was given room and board plus  1500 rupees/month (US $18/month).

Last week  Shazia was badly tortured to death by the family including the lawyer. She worked the whole day non-stop and in the evening when the lawyer asked her to cook some food for him, she said she was tired and feeling sick. Naeem and his family became furious, ripped off her finger nails and killed her. Various member of Naeem’s family badly beat her back. She died of her wounds.

When Amanat Masih heard his daughter was dead. He went to collect the body.  The mourners at Masih’s house were overcome with grief and angry at murder of Shazia. The mourners went to police station and asked the station house officer to file charges. The officer refused. The family of the murdered girl discovered that Naeem bribed the police.

The Christian mourners protested in front of the media offices that covered the story in print and electronic media. On reading or hearing the story Christian political leaders, civil society organizations, pastors/priests, women & human rights organizations strongly protested all over the Pakistan. The protest attracted the attention of the rulers of federal and provincial governments. The state government immediately issued orders to file charges in the case against the accused lawyer and arrest him. The case was filed and the culprits were arrested.

The federal and provincial governments have announced compensation for the victim’s family. The national & provincial assemblies have passed resolution of condemnation and urged punishment to the people responsible of Shazia’s murder.

The police have been investigating and lawyer Muhammad Naeem has been placed on judicial remand. The lawyers in Lahore have been threatening the family of the murdered girl and trying to put pressure on the court to release the Naeem. The lawyers have staged a protest rally and boycotted the court for one day. The lawyers have been condemned by the civil society and various sections of life all over the country for favoring a murderer of a little girl.

The top political leadership of Pakistan has assured the poor Christian family that the culprits will not be spared and will be put into trial despite the extreme pressure from the lawyer’s community. The media has played vital role to highlight the issue that attracted the attention of national and international community.

The Christian community is among the most vulnerable groups in Pakistan. They make up 1.8 percent of 180 million population of the country. Christians are discriminated for their faith and not given jobs in private and government sector. A large number of Christians earn their livelihood working as house maids.

The house maid workers are considered an informal sector to Labour authorities in Pakistan. As a weaker group of the society neither law makers nor anybody else raised any voice for the rights of the house maid workers. About 85 percent of the home based workers are women. There is no legislation to protect their rights. Thus they are prey of vicious circle of exploitation. Long working hours, less wages, false cases of theft and no holidays during weekends or religious festivals make them more miserable.

The poor conditions of the Christian families force parents to send their children to work rather than school. Mal-nutrition and poor living conditions often cause diseases.

Shazia’s murder is a test case for the government and Pakistani society to end exploitation of poor Christian home based workers. Lets us hope that an example will be set for the future and affected family will get justice.

Pray for the Christians of Pakistan and especially for this little girl and her family.

Reported from Pakistan by a Pakistani citizen to the Order of the Legion of St. Michael.

Your miserable servant,
Bro. Bubba

Categories: Islam, Pakistani Christians
Tags: