The Voice team came to know about the incidence of burning a Christian Couple named Shahzad Masih and his five months pregnant wife alive in the brick kiln where they both used to work. Commanded from mosque loudspeakers, a Muslim throng in Punjab Province killed a Christian couple on 4th November 2014 after a co-worker accused the pregnant wife of defiling the Koran. Living on the premises of the brick kiln where shama Bibi and her husband worked in Chak 59 village near Kot Radha Kishan, Karur District, about 60 kilometers (37 miles) southwest of Lahore, some eye witnessed stated that Shama Bibi was beaten to death before the enraged mob threw her body into the kiln, a relative said. The 28-year-old mother of four children was five months pregnant. The relative also told that her husband, Shahzad Masih, was also beaten but was still alive when he was thrown into the kiln with his wife’s body. He was 32. On Sunday (Nov. 2), Shama was cleaning her quarters when she found amulets of her late father-in-law, who had used them in the practice black magic. “Shama burned the amulets and some other related material, assuming that this was the best way to get rid of ‘evil stuff,’” the relative said. “She later threw the ashes on a garbage heap outside their quarters when Muhammad Irfan, a Muslim co-worker, noticed some half-burnt pieces of paper from the amulets and raised a clamor, claiming that Shahzad’s family had desecrated Quranic pages.” The kiln is owned by a Muslim, Chaudhry Yousaf Gujjar. On Monday (Nov. 3), announcements emanated from village mosques calling on “all faithful” to take notice of the alleged blasphemy committed by Shama. The announcements panicked the five Christian brothers of Masih – who also worked at the kiln – and their families, but Gujjar assured them that he would handle the situation. “At around 7 a.m. on Tuesday, a mob of about 3,000-4,000 people, most of whom were armed with batons and sharp-edged weapons, started gathering around the brick kiln,” the relative said, based on information from another relative who witnessed the entire crime. “The kiln’s manager, Muhammad Akram, asked the couple to hide in a room next to the office and told them to lock the door from inside while he put a padlock on the outside. Sensing the imminent danger to their lives, Shahzad’s brothers and all male children fled the kiln, leaving behind the women and little children in the quarters thinking that the mob, which was baying for the blood of Shahzad and his wife, would not hurt them.” The mob forced their way into the quarters and started searching for the couple. Unable to locate them, the crowd rushed towards the office and demanded that the manager reveal their whereabouts.“Mohammad Akram the watchmen of the Brick kiln upon the orders of his Master/owner Yousaf Gujjar gave away the couple, the mob broke into the room and then dragged both of them out to the courtyard, The sister of Shama(deceased) named Yasmeen who is also the eye witness of this whole incidence told the Voice team that “The mob then mercilessly beat up Shama and Shahzad, using fists, kicks and batons at will. Shama was already dead by the time the Islamist zealots had thrown her body into the kiln. Shahzad was still alive when he was shoved into the fire.” The couple is survived by two boys and two girls, the eldest son being 7 years old. This whole incidence was planned, said Yasmeen Bibi sister of Shama Bibi, she said, my Sister Shama and her husband were abducted and kept in the room from where they were handed over to the mob who killed them. I witnessed the whole incidence and when they threw my sister in the fire, I ran towards the house and picked up the children and fled from the house because I was afraid that they might throw the children in the fire as well. The dispute between the brickkiln owner was started when my sister and her husband claimed for their dues and the owner yousaf Gujjar was reluctant to pay them. Therefore they both told him that they will leave the Brickkiln, and as a result he asked them to pay Rs. 5, 00,000 if they wanted to leave the Kiln. Questionable Prosecution: Soon after news broke in local media, large police contingents were deployed in the area to prevent further bloodshed. Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif formed a three-member committee to expedite the investigation of the killings and ordered police to beef up security in Christian neighborhoods in the province. An FIR No: 475/14 is registered in the Police Station Kot Radha Kishan Kasur, whereas the complainant is an SI, Sub-Inspector Mohammad Ali from Chowki Factory Area kot Radha Kishan who is not eligible for being the complainant of the case. The Police filed a First Information Report (FIR) on its own accord, even though the aggrieved family was determined to file a formal complaint into the killings of their loved ones. As it is clearly understood that The government did not want the family to become the complainant in the case as it would keep media focused on developments and cause “global embarrassment” to the government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, whose three terms in office have been tainted with extreme violence against non-Muslims, particularly Christians. The FIR is lodged against 60 people out of which 7 are nominated and the rest of 53 are unknown under the Sections 302, 436, 201, 148.149, 353, 186 of Pakistan Penal Code and 7 ATA (Anti-terrorism Act) also 500-600 people out of the mob from the different nearby villages were also included in the FIR. All major acts of religious terrorism against Christians, including Joseph Colony arson in March 2013, Gojra carnage in 2009, and previous killings at Shanti Nagar, Khanewal and Bamnianwala, have taken place under Pakistan Muslim League (N) governments, which draw support from banned Islamist extremist outfits based in the southern belt of Punjab Province. The relatives of the deceased and The Voice Society criticized the police registration of the FIR and the hasty manner in which the remains were buried without informing the family, allegedly on the counsel of a politician. “We weren’t even told about the funerals. How can a politician approve the funeral of my [relative] without even seeking my permission?” the father Mukhtar Masih of Shama Bibi said, adding that the family had decided to challenge the government’s decision to register a case on its own. “The frenzied mob did not even consider Shama’s condition and kept raining kicks and batons on her,” he said. “Today three innocent lives were lost – the couple and their unborn child – and the police is responsible for these murders. “The Police men were watching this whole incidence and they did not even tried to intervene or help my Children while they were dying out of the Brutality of the Muslims and their Clerics. Their cries were buried under the slogans of Kill the Christians, Allah Ho Akbar and Christians are Kafirs. The Voice Society: The Voice team reached the place of occurrence on 4th November at about 3:00pm soon we heard about the incidence. The team was consisted of Mr. Shahid Anthony, Mr. Napolean Qayyum, Mr. Imran Barkat and Mr. Imran Zafar. The team met the relatives of both of the deceased and gathered facts about the case. on 5th November 2014 The Voice’s legal team has filed a Writ petition in the Sessions Court Kasur for the re- filing of the FIR under the complainant ship of the Father of the deceased Shama Bibi and to add the real facts of the case that are necessary for the prosecution to contest the case and to bring the culprits under the legal punishment of their brutality and in-humanity. The Voice is persistent to go to the High Court for the Stay and for all the necessary efforts if required to change the complainant ship of the FIR and to make sure that the deceased couple should get the Justice for themselves, their Children and for all Christian persecuted community. Latest Update: The Voice Society is pursuing the case of Shama and Shahzad’s Lynching and until today about 124 people/accused are arrested by the police out of which about 45-50 people have applied for the post arrest bails in Anti-terrorist courts and in the high court but by the grace of God The Voice’s legal panel is pursuing and arguing the bails and have got all the bails cancelled in the Anti-terrorist courts and in the high court and we believe and expect the same in the supreme court as well. The Voice’s legal panel is also taking care of the trial in the Anti-terrorist court, “We strive for Justice and glory of God and we believe that Justice will be done with the Children of Shama and Shahzad”. The Voice is also bearing all the expenses of Shama and Shahzad’s Children, and are helping them financially.

Reported By,

The Voice Society