Two human rights activists, Pastor Ghazala Shafique and Luke Victor, visiting Faisalabad from Karachi, were reportedly detained and tortured by the police. The incident, which came to light on Saturday, has been condemned by lawyer and rights activist Jibran Nasir.
The activists were visiting Faisalabad to provide assistance to Reverend Father Eleazar Sidhu. According to Nasir, Sidhu was unlawfully arrested, detained, and tortured by the local police. He alleges that Sidhu was forced to make a statement claiming that he had shot himself in order to protect the actual culprits.
Nasir further claims that Pastor Ghazala Shafique was released from custody, but her phone was withheld by the police. She managed to contact her family using someone else’s phone and revealed that both Luke Victor and Pastor Vicky (Sidhu) had been beaten and taken away by the police.
Nasir also alleges that Luke Victor was severely beaten by police personnel at Saddar police station in Faisalabad. He criticizes the authorities for allowing such mistreatment of Christian rights activists, who are vulnerable and at the mercy of the state.
The incident follows the Jaranwala incident, where a violent mob attacked churches, residences of Christians, and the local assistant commissioner’s office. The violence was fueled by allegations of desecrated pages of the Holy Quran found near a house where two Christian brothers lived.
Nasir has urged the interim Punjab Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi to launch an inquiry into the matter. He emphasizes the vulnerability of the Christian community and their reliance on state authorities for protection.
The Faisalabad City Police Officer Usman Akram Gondal denies the allegations made by Nasir, claiming that the two activists misbehaved with the police and threatened the SHO. However, the Presbyterian Church of Pakistan (PCP) issued a termination letter to Pastor Eleazar Sidhu, citing facts that allegedly point to a self-inflicted injury and contradictory statements made by Sidhu.
The PCP has called for an independent investigation into the matter to bring all the facts to light. They emphasize that one individual’s actions should not tarnish the reputation of the entire Christian community.
In a video statement, Pastor Ghazala Shafique confirms Sidhu’s detention, claiming that they were tortured by the police. She demands transparency regarding any case against Sidhu.
The situation remains unresolved, and the allegations of torture and mistreatment by the police have raised concerns about the protection of human rights and religious freedom in Pakistan.
If you or someone you know is facing persecution or human rights violations, please reach out to relevant authorities or human rights organizations for assistance.