LAHORE, PAKISTAN (ANS) -- A Pakistani Christian girl, who was allegedly abducted, drugged, raped and forced to convert to Islam in December, 2008 is still struggling to get justice as police haven’t arrested all the three persons named in the Police First Investigation Report (FIR), and medical examination, which will determine whether or not alleged rape was committed has not been performed yet.

Shah Taj

The FIR was registered on February 21, 2009; months after the alleged rape took place in Lahore.

Mr. Sohail Johnson, the Chief Coordinator of the Sharing Life Ministry Pakistan (SLMP) told ANS by phone that Shah Taj, the rape victim was abducted from Lahore on December 5, 2008, while she was waiting for a rickshaw.

He said three men kidnapped her and took her to a hotel.

Unaware of its contents, Taj’s captors forced her to sign some documents. Taj was later allegedly drugged and raped by her Muslim captors.

She managed to escape from the custody of her captors by giving her home number to a child waiter who brought her food.

One of the accused was arrested on the spot by the police, who raided the hotel on the tip-off of the rape victim’s family.

Another of the accused was arrested later. Police are yet to arrest the third accused, who Sohail Johnson says he believes is being sheltered by criminals.

Johnson said he referred the case to Lahore based human rights group, Centre for Legal Aid, Assistance and Settlement (CLAAS), whose lawyer, he said would seek approval from magistrate for Taj’s medical examination.

It is not easy for even Muslims to get justice in Pakistan, but there are daunting odds stacked against minorities which makes their pursuit for justice even harder.

Shah Taj explaining her ordeal to Sohail Johnson

Johnson quoted the rape victim as saying that she went through the ordeal because her father, George, owed Rs 300,000 ($3,744.85 USD) to her alleged rapists as he failed to help them secure a visa.

George was arrested under Immigration Act and is serving his sentence in Camp Jail Lahore.

SLMP team met George on April 10, 2009, during jail visits under “Easter Celebration Program 2009.”

Consoling George, who Sohail said was in tears, Sohail told him he would do all he could to ensure that the alleged rapists of his daughter are brought to book.

“Shah Taj is our Christian daughter, and we will not let the culprits get away with this crime. She is with her mother now and is in safe hands. I would urge you to pray for your family,” Sohail told George.

Sohail expressed dissatisfaction over police’s action and alleged that they were expecting a bribe.

SLMP urged all friends and prayer partners to keep Shah Taj in their prayers.

“Please pray for her protection. Pray for wisdom of her lawyer that he may plead the case wisely in court. Please pray for justice to George and his family.”

Dan Wooding, 68, is an award winning British journalist now living in Southern California with his wife Norma of 45 years. He is the founder and international director of ASSIST (Aid to Special Saints in Strategic Times) and the ASSIST News Service (ANS); and US Bureau Chief for the Missionaries News Service (www.missionariesnews.tv) and Safe Worlds IPTV’s Faith, Hope and Charity channel. He was, for ten years, a commentator, on the UPI Radio Network in Washington, DC., and now hosts the weekly "Front Page Radio" show on KWVE in Southern California and which is also carried on the Calvary Radio Network throughout the United States. The program is also aired in Great Britain on UCB UK and Calvary Chapel Radio UK. Wooding is the author of some 42 books, the latest of which is his autobiography, "From Tabloid to Truth", which is published by Theatron Books. To order a copy, go to www.fromtabloidtotruth.com. E-mail: danjuma1@aol.com.