Raped Christian woman still awaits justice

In September 2015, Safia Bibi , a deaf and dumb Christian woman was raped at gun point in her house in village Gonda Ganda Singh Wala near Kasur. Three young men went to her house, two of them stood guard near the window while one, M. Umar allegedly committed the criminal act.

The Nation talked to Mr. Saleem Iqbal, The Director of Care Council of Human Rights to ask him about this case. He said on September 22, an FIR was lodged in the case on questioning the accused M.Umar accepted having committed the offence in front of the investigating officer. The other two are walking free, he added.

“The police was asked by Safia Bibi’s lawyers to interrogate the case on merit. During the court hearing Safia Bibi not only identified the person who raped her but also narrated the whole incident by sign language to file her testimony.”

Mr. Iqbal continued: “The medical test that was conducted when Safia Bibi went to lodge a complaint against M. Umer has been declared untenable as there are no marks of force being used, and secondly as she was a married woman, which made it very difficult to ascertain if she was raped or not. The other issue was that the DNA could not be preserved as it was raining on the day of incident and the woman was soaked wet on way to the Police Station resulting in the evidence being washed away.”

“The accused filed for bail which was granted without any hurdle as they were influentials of the area. Now Safia Bibi and her husband Khalid Masih along with their child have left the area due to threats being given to them to withdraw the accusation. However, they are not ready to take the case back and are seeking justice and plan to go to the High Court if needed. There are many loop holes in the police case which are being ignored. The couple were approached and offered money as compensation, which they accepted, yet they want the culprits to be punished.”

When asked if they were approached by any high officials or politicians as is done usually in such cases, he said, “We had sent our papers to Kamran Michael (the Advisor to the PM for Minority Affairs) but so far there has been no response from him.”

On being asked about the Shama and Shehzad burning case in which a group of people burnt the couple in a brick kiln in-front of their kids in Kot Radha Kishan alleging blasphemy, he added: “No one came forward to help them rather people watched as the couple burn to ashes. Once the news spread it was condemned in almost all quarters.”

“The case is going in the right direction and the government and the police have been very helpful.126 people have been arrested in the gruesome murder of Shama and Shehzad;(we hope) soon more would be arrested and punished for this crime.”

The kids of the burnt couple were a major concern for everyone and he spoke of their condition and how they have started fresh after their parent’s death. “The kids are still in a trauma as one of them saw the parents being thrown in the kiln. Even thou they are with the grandfather, they miss their parents as no one can take their place.”

Talking to The Nation he said that the financial conditions of children and their education was being looked after as the Government had allotted 10 acres of land to the children in Kot Radha Kishan and given them Rs 5 million as compensation to resettle themselves. The DCO Kasur is their guardian and every month they are getting some amount to cater to their basic needs. Along with all this Cecil Iris Chaudary Foundation is looking after their education needs.”

About rumors of Shama having being raped before being tortured and thrown in the kiln, he said, “Shama was not raped , nor has Aasia Bibi (in jail due to the blasphemy charges) been raped as it is rumored in certain quarters.”

This was published in The Nation on 22 Nov 2015

Daachi Foundation brings truck art into limelight

Truck Art has been a part of Pakistan’s art culture for ages. Floral designs in different colors;birds, wild animals and pictures of saints and celebrities, quotes of saints or poets are often seen painted on trucks. People call them jingle trucks too, as they have colorful bells or ornaments hanging from the vehicle and touching the road creating the jingling sound. In urban areas generally these are not a very common sight, but the moment you get onto the highway these beauties can be seen jingling past you in fascinating designs and colors.

Daachi Exhibition was organized by Daachi Foundation an NGO to the Lahore Heritage Museum (old Tollinton Market, Lahore) showcased the handicraft and cottage industry of Pakistan, and there was a stall of truck art also however, no trucks were to be seen there. Rather the beautiful designs of truck art were painted on items of daily use which no one could have imagined possible.

Starting from tissue boxes, wall hangings, plates, table mats, glass coasters, jewelry and last but not the least even on Peshawari chapals. The designs were not only catchy, but also upbeat to the trends of the current generation. The ladies hand and tote bags were unique and in different shapes and sizes, loaded with art work, these could be used with skirts or jeans or if nothing else they could be put as decoration. While the Peshawari Chapalwith intricate designs of peacocks and flowers with a touch of gold and silver could be worn with plain suits too; this will not only break the traditional attire but also set in new fashion trends.

Saima Murtaza, the stall holder said she had been working in this field for the last few years. She is working under the brand name of Enigma-House of Fashion and Design. She has studied designing from a the Baha ud din Zakria University in Multan, and later took courses in jewelry design and making from abroad,before returning home to start her own set up.

  

She has a team of designers, and crafts men working for her. She pays them well and they are doing an excellent job, as can be seen from the products on display. While speaking to The Nation she said, “Truck Art was a dying profession and people are no longer taking interest in it. But in the past three years this art has been revived with the help of many artists, and I am doing my share in this. All this effort has made people bringit into fashion again. They want to see it on various things now, not only on trucks or rickshaws or vans.” When asked what inspired her, she said while she was abroad she realized that people want to know more about Pakistan apart from what the media tells them. So, she thought this would be a good idea, and today her clients are not only within Pakistan but in States, UK and Australia too.

Being a working woman and a housewife, when asked how she manages everything, she said, “My husband is a great support. He has been my greatest strength in all these events and projects.”

Pakistan is rich not only in resources but in talent too. Daachi Foundation organized this three day exhibition in where artisans and entrepreneurs from all over Pakistan came to display their skills and talent, and came away amazed not only at the promotion of these crafts and their projection but also at the process that were easily within reach of even middle class people and even one item from these stalls could turn a drab corner of the room into a truly bright display of Pakistani artifact and the occupants aesthetic sense.

This article was published in The Nation on 12 Nov 2015