Release International

A Christian student nurse is still in a critical condition after she was allegedly gang-raped and then thrown from a fourth-floor window in Karachi.

The third-year nurse was unconscious for 56 hours after a Muslim doctor and his accomplices allegedly beat, tortured and raped her at the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre over several hours on July 13 – then tried to silence her.

The doctor is reported to have a history of abusing Christian nurses with impunity at the teaching hospital – another example of Christian women being treated as an under-class in Pakistan.

Police have charged the doctor and his alleged accomplices with attempted murder. Local Christian organisations are urging police to file rape charges too. The nurse's family say they have received threats from the doctor.

Meanwhile, Pakistan's President, Asif Ali Zardari, has demanded that the Punjab authorities launch an investigation into the murder of two Christian brothers shot dead outside a courthouse in Faisalabad last week (Prayer Alert, July 20, 2010).

Pastors Rashid and Sajid Emmanuel were on trial for blasphemy for allegedly distributing leaflets defaming Islam's prophet Mohammed – charges their family deny. The President has asked the provincial government to take immediate action to arrest the culprits and to pay compensation to the murdered brothers' family.

(Sources: Compass Direct, Dawn Media, International Christian Concern)

• Ask God to heal and comfort the student nurse. Thank God that He crowns her with love and compassion (Psalm 103:4).
• Pray that President Asif Ali Zardari will remain true to his word and ensure that the Punjab authorities seek justice for the Emmanuel brothers' family.

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