The police have claimed to have arrested a suspect for killing a Christian woman, who used to work at the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS). Police said the suspect is the former lover of the victim and that “giving religious color” to the murder was “inappropriate.”

However, the Christian community in the country, including Bishop Azad Marshall, says the woman was gangraped and killed after refusing to convert.

Shazia Bibi went missing on June 6 in Lahore and was found dead later in the day, according to the FIR registered on the complaint of her brother.

The murder was reportedly widely on Saturday, July 1, only after the news made it to social media, though the FIR is dated June 6.

Punjab police issued a statement on Twitter saying a suspect had been arrested.

“As per the initial investigation, the deceased had contact with the accused after the death of her husband in a road accident,” the police said in a tweet on Saturday.

“The accused has confessed his crime. According to the confessional statement, the deceased had started blackmailing the accused.”

“Giving a religious color to the motives behind the killings is inappropriate and completely contrary to the facts. Further investigation is going on, the case will be brought together according to the requirements of justice and law and the guilty will be punished,” the police said responding to a Twitter user who questioned the silence on the part of authorities and LUMS administration.

Bishop Marshall confirmed that the main accused had been arrested, but demanded justice for Shazia Bibl.

He also said she was murdered for refusing to convert.

“Our hearts go out to the children and family members of Shazia Bibi, who was abducted, gangraped, murdered and her body doused in acid by four Muslim men on June 6 after she repeatedly turned down attempts to forcibly convert and marry the main accused,” President Bishop Church of Pakistan Bishop Azad Marshall tweeted.

He added that Shazia was the sole breadwinner for her children after her husband’s alleged murder in 2021.

“While the main accused has been arrested and also admitted to the gory crime, attempts are being made to pressurize the family to reconcile with the murderers.”

Marshall demanded justice for the victim’s family and urge the government to ensure their security in face of serious threats.

More to follow…