Pakistan: Death of young Christian to be investigated
Sep 02 2008
Postings >> Pakistan

A high-ranking inspector has stepped in to investigate the death of a young Christian after an RI partner refuted earlier police claims that he had committed suicide.

The body of the 19-year-old 'Rehmat' was dragged out of a canal in Hafizabad in Punjab on May 4. His family and lawyers from CLAAS (Centre for Legal Aid Assistance and Settlement) believe Rehmat was murdered by relatives of a young Muslim girl with whom he had struck up a friendship in Gujranwala.

Rehmat's parents' version of events is that the girl arranged to meet their son outside the city but she arrived at their rendezvous point with relatives who tortured Rehmat for two days and then killed him.

Local police in Gujranwala brought no charges against the girl's relatives initially. But, when RI partner CLAAS presented the case to the office of the inspector general of Punjab, he reopened the case. The girl's father and uncle have since been arrested.

(Source: CLAAS, Compass Direct)

Ask God to comfort Rehmat's family and give them hope.

Thank God for the intervention of both CLAAS and the inspector general in this case. Pray that justice will be done for Rehmat's sake.