Police in Pakistan has found the bodies of two Christian sisters who were reportedly killed by their supervisors because they refused to convert to Islam. Their bodies were found in Lahore on January 4.
According to Morning Star News, the two women named Sajida Mushtaq and Abida Qaiser were found tied in a sack, then dumped close a drainage ditch. Reports have it that the women have been declared missing since November 26, 2020.
Sajida's husband, Mushtaq Masih informed the police that his wife had told him about how she was being disturbed at work by her Muslim supervisors at work.
"My wife often complained of harassment by her supervisors, but she used to tell me that she was handling the situation well," Masih told Morning Star News. "After she went missing, one of my relatives shared with us that Sajida had confided in her that her supervisors, Muhammad Mumtaz and Naeem Butt, used to pressure her and Abida to convert to Islam and marry them."
Masih reported to the police after his wife and sister-in-law did not return home from work. Officer Iftikhar Hussain, who was investigating the case, stated that Mumtaz and Butt were questioned by the police after they were informed that Mumtaz usually torture the two sisters, telling them to marry him. Consequently, the two suspects confessed to killing the sisters.
"During interrogation, Naeem confessed that they had abducted the sisters, and after keeping them hostage for a few days for satisfying their lust, had slit their throats and thrown their bodies into the drain," Hussain informed Morning Star News.
Meanwhile, Masih and another family member were asked to identify the dead bodies. In his reaction, Masih said, "I still cannot fathom the sight of seeing my wife's decomposed body. I have three sons and a daughter the eldest 11 years old, and the youngest 5 while Abida has only one daughter, aged 9."
"You can imagine the emotional and mental trauma our children and all other family members have been suffering since Sajida and Abida had gone missing. When police informed us that they had identified the two bodies as those of our loved ones, it seemed that our entire world had come crumbling down," Masih added.
Punjab Province Minister for Minorities and Human Rights Ejaz Alam Augustine has consoled the grieving family members.
"No words are enough to condemn the barbarity meted out to the two innocent women," the minister said.
Furthermore, Augustine talked about the increasing rate at which Christian women and girls in Punjab were being forced to convert from their faith. However, he assured that laws which ensure that the culprits will be punished are being enacted by the government.
"We have sent a draft bill to the provincial law ministry for vetting. It will be introduced in the Punjab Assembly after evolving consensus of all political parties," he affirmed.
On Open Doors' 2020 World Watch List of countries where Christians are mostly persecuted, Pakistan ranks fifth.
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