Christian Girl, 10, Targeted In Attempted Rape Attack In Pakistan

by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Chief International Correspondent

SHEIKHUPURA, PAKISTAN (Worthy News) – Authorities in Pakistan launched an investigation after a 10-year-old Christian girl was allegedly targeted in an attempted rape by a Muslim man in Punjab province amid a series of violent incidents against Christians in the region, investigators said Sunday.

Police in Punjab’s city of Safdarabad registered a case after the alleged assault in Manawarabad village in Sheikhupura District, according to sources familiar with the investigation. Worthy News does not publish the identity of victims of sexual or domestic violence. The suspect’s name is known to Worthy News but has not yet been released pending possible charges.

Officials said the circumstances surrounding Saturday’s incident remain under investigation, and police have not yet publicly disclosed formal charges. Authorities urged the public to remain calm while investigators determine the motive and full details of the attack.

The case has drawn condemnation from Christian leaders and rights activists, who say it highlights ongoing concerns about the safety of religious minorities in Pakistan.

Pastor Imran Amanat, director of advocacy group LEAD Ministries, called the assault “intolerable,” urging authorities to ensure the girl’s safety and hold those responsible accountable.

BRUTAL ASSAULT

“The brutal assault on a child — someone so young and defenseless — is not only a crime against an individual but also an affront to the very principles of humanity and dignity,” Amanat told Worthy News.

Sardar Mushtaq Gill, founder of LEAD Ministries, said the organization documents persecution and human rights violations against Christians and works with partners to raise awareness of violence faced by minority communities.

Rights groups say Christian women and girls in Pakistan are particularly vulnerable to abuse, abduction, and forced conversion. Advocacy groups estimate that hundreds of Christian and Hindu girls are abducted each year, often forced into marriage and pressured to convert to Islam.

The latest incident comes a day after the killing of a Christian agricultural worker in the same region and follows earlier attacks against Christians this year amid rising Islamic extremism, which has sparked protests, according to local sources.

Muslim-majority Pakistan ranks 8th on the Open Doors World Watch List, an annual ranking of the 50 countries where Christians face the most severe persecution. Activists say Christians and other minorities in Pakistan often face discrimination, intimidation, and attacks, particularly in poorer rural areas.

Police said the investigation is ongoing.

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