Justice Delayed: Christian Woman Seeks Accountability After Assault in Pakistan

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A young Christian mother in Pakistan is seeking justice after being raped by three Muslim men in front of her 3-year-old daughter, only to face obstruction and mistreatment by local law enforcement. Her case highlights the systemic injustice faced by Pakistan’s religious minorities, particularly Christians, under an increasingly hostile climate.

Sheeza Intikhab, a 20-year-old Christian woman from Chak No. 42 village in the Sangla Hill area of Punjab’s Nankana Sahib District, reported being attacked in her home on June 11 by three menMuhammad Mohsin, Zahid Gujjar, and another identified only as Arsalan. Her husband was working in another district at the time, a move reportedly arranged by Mohsin, who is a relative of their employer. The family had been working at a local landlord’s cattle farm since May.

“They barged into my room around 9 p.m. and raped me in front of my daughter,” Sheeza told Christian Daily International–Morning Star News. “My child got sick afterward and is now afraid to be alone. I am a poor Christian, but I still deserve justice.”

Despite the brutality of the attack and the trauma inflicted on both mother and child, local police delayed action. Sheeza and her husband tried to file a complaint immediately, but Sub-Inspector Kamran Shahzad at the local police station allegedly abused and dismissed them. A female constable reportedly slapped Sheeza and physically forced them out.

In Pakistan, a formal police complaint is known as a First Information Report (FIR). Without it, an investigation or prosecution cannot begin. It wasn’t until ten days later, after repeated efforts and public pressure, that police reluctantly accepted the application and arrested the suspects. However, the process was marred by delays, coercion, and intimidation.

According to Sheeza, officers pressured her to withdraw the complaint, even offering a bribe of 150,000 Pakistani Rupees (roughly USD 530). The police reportedly failed to properly record the arrests, further casting doubt on their intentions.

Human rights advocates have stepped in. Safdar Chaudhry, head of Raah-e-Nijaat Ministry, Pakistan, and a member of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), criticized the authorities for enabling injustice.

“Sheeza’s case is a chilling example of the hurdles faced by marginalized Christians in Pakistan,” Chaudhry said. “Instead of protecting the victim, the police were actively shielding the accused, likely due to political or financial influence.”Christians make up less than 2% of Pakistan’s population, which is over 96% Muslim. The country is ranked 8th on the Open Doors 2025 World Watch List of the most dangerous places to be a Christian. Cases of abuse, land grabs, false blasphemy accusations, and sexual violence against Christian women are all too common and often ignored by authorities.