A 21-year-old woman was fatally shot inside her home in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, by her Muslim neighbor, according to a report by Christian Daily International.  

Her killer then abducted her 16-year-old stepbrother, coercing him to confess to her murder. 

Saba Mehboob and her two daughters had been living with her mother and stepfamily for the last year, after leaving her husband because of his severe drug addiction. Her neighbor, Adnan Butt, made several advances on her, once blocking her way to the market. On two occasions, she had slapped him to protect herself, but it only made matters worse. 

“I think Saba’s rejection fueled his anger, leading him to murder her,” said Joshua Mehboob, Saba’s brother. 

At 9 p.m. on Sept. 3, Butt allegedly entered the home, pointed a gun at Saba’s step-uncles, and ordered them to leave. Her stepbrother, Anoosh, helplessly watched as Butt slapped Saba repeatedly, shouting that she had dishonored him. 

Butt eventually shot Saba in the forehead, killing her instantly. Anoosh was held at gunpoint and forced to board a motorcycle, where a man took him to the house of Butt’s brother-in-law. There, several people threatened him with death if he did not stay silent or confess to the murder. 

Anoosh was held in their custody until 5 p.m. the next day, after his father and other family members had agreed not to file a complaint. 

Fighting for Justice

The family later went to the hospital to receive Saba’s body and had the police meet them there to record Anoosh’s statement. He and his father were placed in protective custody. 

Police registered a First Information Report (FIR), officially treating the incident as a crime. Though Butt’s petition stated that “he is a person of good character with no criminal history,” previous criminal records surfaced, with multiple cases involving drugs, illegal weapons, fighting, theft, robbery, dacoity, and rioting. However, Butt obtained pre-arrest bail from the court. 

The incident has sparked a protest in the community, with both Christians and Muslims calling for Butt’s arrest and for justice to come for Saba’s family and her young daughters. 

Around the world, human rights activists have been raising awareness about Pakistan’s lack of justice for religious minorities, particularly in sexual abuse cases.  

Nasir Saeed, director of the Center for Legal Aid Assistance and Settlement UK (CLASS-UK), said Saba’s death reflects the extreme dangers Christians face in the country and called for equal treatment amongst the majority Muslim population. 

“Christians in Pakistan continue to experience discrimination, marginalization, and vulnerability, particularly those from poor backgrounds,” she said. “They must never be made to feel that they are inferior citizens. Their lives, dignity, and rights are equal to those of every other Pakistani citizen.” 

Open Doors has ranked Pakistan as the eighth most dangerous place in the world to be a Christian on their World Watch List of countries where Christians face persecution. 

Story by Bella Agnello 

To read more news stories, visit the ICC Newsroom. For interviews, please email us. To support ICC’s work around the world, please give to our Where Most Needed Fund.