Salma Munir, a 20-year-old mentally handicapped Christian Pakistani woman, was kidnapped by Omer Khokhar, known as Khatri, a Muslim man, back in February 2024. He saw the young woman who was from a poor Christian family and was mentally handicapped as an easy target. Khatri kidnapped and raped her and then sold her to prostitution multiple times.

After the disappearance of their daughter, the family tried unsuccessfully to register a case with the police.  After five months, in June, Salma was rescued by his brother, who went to work in Hafizabad, where his sister was sold to a brothel, and brought her home.

“He intercepted the rickshaw on which she was travelling and rescued his sister, but the Madame of the brothel managed to escape from the scene. The youth brought the traumatized girl back to the family, but she was in a really bad condition, and her bleeding wouldn’t stop”

said Asif Khokhar, chief organizer of the All Pakistan Minorities Alliance Movement, who supports the cause of the family. He said that the family tried to find medical help for their daughter, but their attempts were in vain. Before her death, Salma told her family everything about her captivity and the deeds of Khatri. Salma’s father, Munir Masih, confronted Khatri, but the man denied everything and accused the family of killing their daughter. The family tried to get help from local Muslim elders but failed. Then, driven by the fear for his other family members, Masih decided to bury her daughter and keep silence.

However, this silence was broken when Khatri tried to kidnap the younger sister of Salma, Nisha Munir. When the girl successfully resisted, Kahtri threatened her that she would end up just like her sister if she did not comply with his demands. Seeing the danger looming over his family, Masih decided to pursue further legal actions until Khatri is punished for his crimes. He contacted Asif Khokhar and asked for his help. With his assistance, they tried to file a complaint with the police but failed initially. The police were willing to register their case and arrest Khatri, but only after Emannuel Athar Julias, a Christian provincial lawmaker, requested it.

Khatri may be under arrest and justice might be served, but the Christian family is not safe and their troubles are not over yet. Kokhar said that,

“Though the accused is now in custody, his family and friends are now threatening Munir Masih’s family to reach a settlement with them. The security of the family is of utmost importance due to the sensitivity of the case, so we have relocated them to a safe location.”

Now the family is in hiding and had to give up their work, meaning that they are without any earnings and live off solemnly from the support they are provided by Kokhar’s organization. Kokhar also stated that they request the police and the government to protect the vulnerable Christian family.

Source: Christian Daily