On 1st sept 2015 at about 8:00pm The Voice team got the information about some religious tension between Christians and Muslims in the district of Kasoor in a village named Usman wala. The Voice team comprised of Adv. Aneeqa Maria, Shahid Anthony, Napolean Qayyum, Imran Zafar and Imran Barkat reached the place of occurrence at about 12:00am in the night. There was a hype of tension in the atmosphere, everyone was seemed to be watching and observing our vehicle. The team met Shamaun Masih, Goga Masih and Ashraf Masih in the middle of the night and asked them about the incidence and the situation. They told us that the situation is so far tense due to allegations of Blasphemy upon the Christian man named pervaiz Masih.
Statement of Shamaun Masih: Shamaun Masih told the Voice team that there was a dispute of contract of sand for the building purposes. Pervaiz Masih his brother in law had got the contract of the sand for the building purpose where as one Muslim known as Haji Jamshed and his fellow Haji Bashir could not get the contract. This was the reason of grievance of Muslims and due to which they implicated an incidence of Blasphemy and involved Pervaiz in the aforesaid accusation. He further told the Voice team that they have sent Pervaiz out of this village to a safer place and are trying to settle down the matter themselves. Shamaun and his fellows suggested the Voice team not to go in the village at this time of night as it is full of dangers of being theft or even murdered by the terrorist during the middle of the night and they suggested that they will bring some reasonable men from another Christian village who can explain The Voice team better about the internal situation. The Voice team agreed, and stayed outside the village to wait for the other people to come. After about half an hour a police patrolling van came and told the Voice team to come out of the car. Upon inquiring the police patrolling car they told the Voice team that we cannot move or leave the place until their senior officer come. Meanwhile the police arrested Shamaun, Goga, Ashraf, karamat and Gilveiz ion their way back to us from the village as they went inside the village to bring some people to tell us the truth.
Illegal confinement of The Voice team: The Police took The Voice team to a nearby petrol station and told us that we cannot go from there and we have to sit outside the car until their senior will come. The team asked them to call their senior as they cannot detain us illegally anywhere, but the Police threatened us that they can even kill us if we try to move or not obey their command. Their attitude was very offensive and they were not ready to listen. After about two hours the Station House officer (SHO) came and he told us not to come at this place as it is entirely dangerous and he also inquired about Pervaiz Masih from us, he said that if we know where pervaiz Masih is then we should help the police to arrest him as he is a blasphemer. Some how after detaining us for about two and a half hours the Police let us leave on a condition that we will go back to Lahore and will not visit the village. Due to threats and insecurity the Voice team had to come back at about 3:00am in the morning.
The next day at about 5:00am i.e. on 2nd sept 2015 the Voice team again reached the village and met Pervaiz’s family. They said that they were trying to trace pervaiz but are not having any contact with him. They requested the Voice team to save pervaiz’s life as he is innocent. The Voice team inquired about the other people/relatives of pervaiz Masih whom we met last night and people told us that the Police arrested them last night. The Voice team at about 10:00am went to the Brickkiln where Pervaiz and his family worked, there we came to know that the Brickkiln owner have took Pervaiz Masih to the Police station for his surrender. The family of Pervaiz Masih requested the Voice team to visit their houses at the Village Khudian at Veeram Road. The Voice team went to the village and met the Christian people there. The women started crying and making hue and cry when they saw the Voice team have came to help them. They told us that the police raided the Village last night and have raided every single house and they have beaten the man and women really bad while inquiring about Pervaiz.
Statement of Sumaira Fiaz: She was crying badly, Adv. Aneeqa consoled her and asked her about the incidence, she told us that she is pregnant, but the Police men did not had any mercy upon her nor upon any women of the Village. The police men were abusing badly using filthy language that was unbearable for us to listen, and were beating and kicking women in abdomen and spine. They were beating all the women without sparing even small children. Police has tortured us really badly and they have also torn our souls by abusing us, our religion and our forefathers.
Thank God my child is safe, at first I doubted that I have lost my unborn baby, but now I am feeling better after medication and massage.
Statement of Shahnaz Bibi: Shahnaz stated almost the same story, she said that I had a cesarean last week and my newborn is just 8 days old. The Police did not spared me or even my new born baby. They have beaten me and my baby equally, I begged them not to beat my baby as she is only eight days old, but the police abused me and my baby girl and used filthy langusge about us and inquired about Pervaiz. They said that they will put us all behind bars if we do not give them Pervaiz.
Zarina’s Statement, wife of Pervaiz Masih: Zarina Bibi met the Voice team and started crying and trembling, and begging for the life of her Children and her Husband. The Voice team assured her that we are here to help them and we are not the agents of Police, after hearing this she got relaxed and told us a terrible story of Police torture last night. She told us further that she and Pervaiz have four Children named Amir 9 years old, Prem 5 years old, Anmol 3 years old and Sanam 7 months old. She said that Pervaiz is innocent, they use to work on brickkiln whereas Pervaiz also take small contracts of soil and sand as a over time. This time his over time Job has got them killed. She was very worried about the Children, The Voice took the responsibility of her Children and her security.
The team met many women and every one was telling almost the same story, which was very painful and heart throbbing but this time even the Voice team was victimized and threatened badly. The people of the Village requested the Voice team to save the other people who were in the illegal custody of the Police. The Voice team assured them that we will fight for the Justice for them.
The Voice team later reached the Police station of Khudian where DPO Mr. Saeed Ali was present. The team met the DPO (District Police Officer) and asked him about the fate of Pervaiz Masih. He said that Pervaiz has confessed his blasphemy and the Police have lodged an FIR against him, however he assured The Voice team and Lawyers that he will make sure that Justice be done with the Christian community. The Voice also told him about the Police torture and condemned this act of Police upon which he also said that this is in humane act and is not supported by the law. The Voice team also asked him to release the innocent people. He instantly ordered the release of Shamaun, Goga, Karamat and Gilvaiz and handed them over to the Voice team. After receiving them the Voice team left the Police station and went to the Kasoor District courts because the Police was taking Pervaiz for the judicial remand to send him to Jail. The team met him and assured him that he will be given Justice. An FIR under section 295 C is registered against Pervaiz Masih under number 195/15. Pervaiz Masih is now In Jail waiting for the justice to be done with him. The Voice team will do every effort for Justice and his safety, and his family’s safety.

Reported By,
Aneeqa M. Anthony
Advocate High Court
Coordinator
The Voice Society