Tahira is the mother of Mehik, a minor girl 13 year old who was abducted, raped, and forcefully converted by Shahid Ali. With the day & night struggle of her parents Tahir & Bashir, Mehik was recovered after a few months. She later gave birth to a baby girl named Zarish. She lives with her parents and Zarish is now 12 months old.
Tahira is a brave and wise lady but for her determination to free her daughter from Shahid Ali, she has paid a high price. Shahid Ali murdered Mahek’s real uncle and in July, shot Tahira in both her legs and her heel. In August the CAPC team visited Tahira in the hospital & showed solidarity. Tahira, Bashir, their 4 daughters & Zarish all live in a one room house with a small open area. The house entrance is a shared broken door and narrow corridor to walk to their part of the house. The electricity was cut due to inability to pay the bills. Tahira was the sole breadwinner of the family but since her attack, has not been able to work. Her husband Bashir is also not able to work due to his health. Previously Tahira worked in a hospital as a sanitary worker but after being hospitalised for over 2 weeks, she is still not able to work. The family is going through very hard times mentally, financially and physically.
Tahira said, “I am struggling for the medicines and our groceries. I have taken my daughters out of school for security reasons, because Shahid’s family lives just a couple of lanes away.I am afraid that my daughter may be kidnapped. The culprit Shahid Ali is still at large and we feel very insecure living in this house or even in this area. There is no peace for us till he is behind bars but the police are supporting them. But we are determined that we will fight for justice”.
Her daughter Mehik also explained, “Shahid and his family have done a great injustice to me and my family. They even tried to kidnap the baby girl saying that she is a Muslim baby. They killed my paternal uncle who was the witness, and also injured my mother. I want justice. Shahid should be behind bars. I am terrified of any further harm to myself, my daughter or any of my family. I strongly desire to go away to a safer house and area, as now my mom can not earn any money, we cannot go out of the house and my father has to attend the court & stay around for our safety. Life has become very hard and rearing my daughter is also challenging. Please help us, we want to move away from this house. My mom also needs medicine & food to recover quickly”.
Tahira was shot in the leg
Mehik’s sister Chashman wants to persue her studies and become a commando to deal with culprits like Shahid Ali to save other minor girls & their families from the situation which her family is facing.
R Bhatti & Akmal with Tahira and her family
The need assessed by the team & also raised by the family:
– Relocation: renting a house somewhere where they can be safe and the girls can continue their education.
– Cash for medicine & groceries
– Legal assistance