As evident in the cases in the last chapter, the police functions at the dictates of the influential people and as an instrument of oppression. The attitude of the administration and the police becomes even more harsh and insulting with non-Muslim citizens.
After the self-sacrifice of Bishop John Joseph police treated the peaceful Christian protests barbarously, on May 8th at Faisalabad, on May 15th at Lahore and Rawalpindi, and Multan.
Over 700 protesters were arrested in Lahore, at Rawalpindi 73 youth were arrested and 27 were hauled up in Multan. The cases instituted against these protesters is reminiscent of the authoritarian practices of the colonial period and of Martial Law. Protesters were booked under Penal Code Sections 147 and 1 49 (riots and unlawful assembly); 186-187-188 (obstructing, failing to comply with orders and disobeying orders of a public servant) and the much-abused Section 16 of the Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance (MPO).
All the protesters were released on bail bonds worth millions of rupees. These cases are still pending in courts.
Similar cases had been made against 237 Christians of Karachi on February 13th 1997, who protested against the destruction and looting of Christian property in Shantinagar and Khanewal. Contrary to the normal practice in such ‘political cases’ these cases have not been withdrawn.
Rawalpindi Police arrested Sardar Saran Singh and Dedar Singh, two Sikhs immigrants from Afghanistan. Although they had proof of being refugees, they were arrested and harassed because of their religious identity. A case was registered against them under the Foreigners Act.
Following are some the known cases of custodial deaths of non-Muslim citizens during the year understudy.
- Murder; tortured by Police Maqbool Masih (70), Narowal 24-8-98
- Killed; tortured in custody Gorichan Masih (60), Lahore 04-9-98
- Killed in alleged encounter Dildar Masih (22), Lahore 12-11-98
- Killed in alleged encounter Iftekhar Masih (24), Lahore – do –
- Killed in alleged encounter Nawaz Masih (26), Lahore – do –
- Aslam Masih (29) arrested by the Faisal Town Police under allegations of robbery in the first week of February 98, was allegedly killed and buried by personnel of another Police Station (Johar Town). The wife and children of Aslam staged a protest in order to procure the dead body of Aslam.
- Saleem Masih, a domestic servant, and his daughter Nadia, barely ten years of age, were tortured by their employer and then by Defence Police Station Lahore in February 98.
- Allah Dita, alias Kala Masih, was tortured in police custody in Gujjarpur for three days. Police left him at his door when his condition became serious on July 31st 1998. He was arrested for interrogation in connection with a theft case.
- Maqbool Masih, an 80-year-old Christian, died under mysterious circumstances in jail at Narowal on August 25th 1998. He had been detained there for the past nine months. His relatives alleged that Maqbool Masih was tortured in the jail.
- Gorichan Masih, a 60-year-old man, died in police custody at Saddar Police Station in Lahore on September 4th 1998. The police accused his rival party of beating him in the police station which, according to them, led to the death of Gorichan Masih.
Wounds that never heal
Bishop John Joseph, a well known social worker and human rights activist, Chairperson of the National Commission for Justice & Peace, sacrificed himself on 6th May 1 998 as a protest against the death sentence passed on Ayub Masih a Christian victim of the blasphemy laws.
Through his choice of place for the sacrifice, his letters to the press and the speech draft to the Asian Bishop’s Synod, he gave a clear message that he was laying down his life in protest about the pathetic condition of religious minorities in general and against the discriminatory laws in Pakistan, in particular.
The propaganda machinery of the government however tried to dilute the impact and to create confusion regarding the motives and background of this act of Bishop John Joseph.
The sheer ignorance of the media workers about Catholicism and the background situation, led them to hatch ridiculous stories. They first tried to project this self-emulation as a murder. The probable murderer for them was Fr. Yaqoob Farooq O.R, who incidentally was in company of. Bishop John at the site of his sacrifice. Fr. Farooq, the Babu Patras, the driver faced harassment from vested interests in the guise of pressmen. Father Farooq also received threats through telephone calls and letters.
Fictitious statements were attributed to Dr. Jordan Patrick, a Surgeon at Christian Hospital, Sahiwal. When he denied the statements and condemned media juggling, he was harassed and the media observed a black out on his statements.
Some news items contributed by dubious news agencies, suggested that the Bishop’ [5] sacrifice was aimed at harming the image of Pakistan and finally that it was a result of some financial dispute. When such news did not serve the purpose, the establishment relied on their conventional. warfare. They used planted people to divide the Christian community and to give misinformation to the world and to the citizens of Pakistan.
The Muslim majority was misinformed therefore the common people who do not have much interaction with the Christian community will never understand the meaning of the protest of Bishop John Joseph. Therefore it would not be surprising if they continue to think and treat, as less patriot.
Countrywide protests, sparked after May 6th, met with brutality from the law enforcing agencies, over 800 people arrested adding to the outrage of religious minorities. The state agencie 5 not only failed to act to promote harmony but also caused antagonism by using manipulative tricks. The government neither sent any representative for the funeral nor a message of condolence to the Christian community. On the other hand it allowed right-wing parties to hold processions and to make provocative statements in favour of blasphemy laws. Seven houses were damaged and four shops that belonged to Christians were burnt in Faisalabad on the May 8th.
The chief organiser of the ruling party Mr. Ejaz Ulhaq, said that the blasphemy laws will not be changed ‘even if Pope commits suicide if Pope commits suicide in protest, and even if one billion Christian were killed.’
While there was at least mention of the incident and issue in the vernacular press, the government controlled electronic media remained completely silent on this issue. The English press in Pakistan however showed remarkable courage; it wrote and published daringly.
Police’s attitude
Defence Area Police, Lahore, arrested Arshed Masih of Gulistan Colony on theft charges. The police used third degree methods on Arshed to make him confess the charges. When Arshed’s condition became critical, the police called his family and handed over Arshed to them. The family brought the victim to PM Nawaz Sharf’s residence and blocked the road as protest (The News Lhr.14-3-97).
Police in case of an untoward incident or crime in the minority neighborhoods tries to find fault with the fellow community members.
Trained in colonial administrative fashion, the Police do not spare any body as tar as their harsh attitude is concerned. However, minority citizens have to bear more than their share of the brunt because of being socio-economically disadvantaged. The localities inhabited by non-Muslims become a place for Police’s witch-hunting for easy buck making.
Licenses for liquor are one reason. A large quantity of spirits acquired by the non-Muslims on permits is sold out to eager Muslim purchasers for whom it is banned. It provides excuse for police to treat Non-Muslim persons (and localities) a tool for money making resulting in illegal detentions and sometimes in extra-judicial killings due to torture. Emmanuel of Gojra (1994), Nazir Masib of Faisalabad (1995) and Javed Masih of Hyderabad(1 996); all lost their lives under the same pretext.
Phinias Mash and Chanesar Palari were killed in the police custody in Bhitai Nagar Police station Hyderabad in the last week of August 1997. The police failed to register a case against the culprits.
Maqbool Feroz (45), was killed by police firing in Karachi on 1 3 February 1 997. He was one of the protesters expressing their concern over the 5-6 February incidents of Khanewal and Shantinagar. The police also arrested 237 demonstrators. Along with other allegations they were charged of Maqbool’s murder.
