Pakistan: In a courageous act of self-defence, a Christian family in Wazirabad successfully foiled an attempted kidnapping of their teenage daughter, Sehar Muskan, on the night of December 18. The family faced assailants identified as Mani and Ahmad Munir, who invaded their home with the intention of abducting Sehar at gunpoint.

 Asghar Masih, the father, detailed the terrifying experience. He described how the two men scaled the walls of their residence and threatened his daughter, causing her to scream in fear. This alerted the rest of the family. In a desperate bid to protect Sehar, Masih confronted Munir, attempting to disarm him. In the ensuing struggle, both Masih and his wife, Fouzia Bibi, were shot and injured.

Their son, Sahil, intervened with a cricket bat, helping to drive the attackers away. Neighbours Khawar and Saim witnessed the incident.

 This incident is not isolated. In May 2023, Munir had allegedly kidnapped Muskan, leading her family to file an FIR (No 308/23) at the Saddar City Police Station under section 365-B. The family criticized the police's inadequate response to that incident, despite Muskan returning home in August with injuries.

 The Masih family sought immediate medical attention following this latest attack and reported the matter to the authorities. They previously sought higher-level police protection, feeling their concerns as a religious minority were being ignored.

 Nasir Saeed, Director of CLAAS-UK, commented on the incident, expressing concern over the lack of serious action by Pakistani authorities in such cases. He highlighted the broader issues of forced conversions and forced marriages among minority Christian and Hindu girls in Pakistan, criticizing the police and government's response to these issues.

 Saeed emphasized the need for the Pakistani government to provide security for the Masih family, particularly as the legal case against Munir and his accomplice continues. He expressed apprehension that without adequate protection, there might be further attempts to intimidate the family and obstruct their pursuit of justice.

 The Masih family's ordeal has shed light on the challenges faced by religious minorities in Pakistan. Their determination to seek justice is a testament to their resilience and has ignited a call for action on social media, demanding fair treatment and enhanced safety for all minority communities.

 Centre for Legal Aid, Assistance and Settlement (CLAAS) is an interdenominational organization working for Christians who are being persecuted because of their faith in Pakistan. CLAAS works for religious freedom, to stop persecution of Christians in Pakistan because of blasphemy and other discriminatory laws, raise awareness, disseminate information and highlight the plight of Christians on an international level. CLAAS provides free legal aid to victims of religious intolerance in Pakistan, as well as shelter and financial support for the victims and their families.