As is often the case in Pakistan, Masih, a Christian, was likely coerced outside of court into dropping the case against Kainat’s murderers.
“Those of us living in small villages witness such incidents routinely,” Chaudhry Shamaun Qaiser, a former member of the Punjab Assembly, told International Christian Concern (ICC). “Law enforcement personnel suggest that the complainant not pursue the case and instead compromise with the persecutor.”
“We stand with Christians and register the case against the oppressor, however we have to put extra efforts to keep the victim firm,” Qaiser continued. “Often, poor Christians succumb to the pressure and their vulnerability. Sometimes we are successful and keep the victim firm which results in victory. I think we should have an institution to help such people regardless [of] religion.”
Providing greater insight into the suffering of Christian women working as domestic workers, Alyas Rehmat, an activist for female domestic workers, said, “This segment is a part of the huge informal sector and thus the existing labor laws are not applicable to domestic working women. There are no clear estimates of the total number of the domestic women workers, however, according to a study, every fourth household in the country hires [a] domestic worker.”
“The majority of these workers are Christian women who are often alleged for stealing, are raped, and are forced to convert to Islam,” Rehmat continued. “[Since] there are no existing laws and policies for domestic workers in Pakistan, therefore they often face persecution and are victimized.”
Kainat is only one of thousands of Christian domestic workers in Pakistan. While her case has now been closed, her story of persecution and injustice will likely not be the last. More must be done to protect the rights of Christian domestic workers in Pakistan both while they are working and when they are seeking justice against abusive employers.
For interviews with William Stark, Regional Manager, please contact Olivia Miller, Communications Coordinator: [email protected]