On August 20, 2024, in an act of Christian persecution in Pakistan, four Muslim men abducted 21-year-old Mehak Victor John from her home in Nazareth Colony, Phulnagar City, Kasur District. This incident highlights the severe religious discrimination, faith-based violence, and forced conversions that Christian communities often face in the region.

Around 7 PM, the abductors forcibly entered the Christian family’s house. According to Zareena Victor John, the mother of the abducted girl, the four men, identified as Muhammad Musam, Hasnain, Muhammad Zaigham, and Zain, were armed with guns. They first tortured Zarina and her daughters before forcibly taking Mehak away in a vehicle. Even the Christian neighbors, Haroon Masih and Pervaiz Masih, begged the abductors to leave the girl, but they were also beaten before the abductors fled the scene.

Police Action:

 The parents and neighbors immediately contacted the police, but the authorities initially avoided registering the complaint against the abductors. It took eight days for the police to register the complaint formally, only citing Section 365 B of the Pakistan Penal Code, while several crucial sections were excluded from the FIR:

House Trespass is defined in Section 442 of the Pakistan Penal Code as forcibly entering someone’s house without permission.

Abduction: Section 362, applicable for forcibly taking the girl from her home.

Assault: Using force or threatening with a gun likely constitutes assault under Section 351 of the Pakistan Penal Code.

It is worth noting that the police often avoid building a solid case against the abductors, which weakens such cases in court and usually results in the abductors receiving bail before arrest from the session court.

Note:

Every month, dozens of Christian girls are abducted in Punjab, Pakistan. Despite laws meant to protect minorities, the legal system often fails to uphold these protections. We ask you to pray for this Christian family, who have been persecuted for their faith in Jesus Christ. It has also been observed that Christian girls and women are often targeted by organized Muslim groups who seek to exploit them.