TOBA TEK SINGH: `Alarming` reports continue to surface from various areas of the Faisalabad Diocese where Christian women are increasingly becoming victims of sexual violence. Heinous crimes such as rape are being reported every other day yet the victims face threats and pressure instead of justice.

In a joint statement issued on Monday, Bishop Indrias Rehmat and Father Khalid Rasheed Assi said that this was not just about crime; it`s a blatant violation of minority human rights as victims were not being provided with adequate police protection and were often coerced into silence simply because they were Christians.

They said that inresponse to these grave developments, an emergency meeting was convened by the National Commission for Peace and Justice, chaired by Dr Andreas Rehmat, Bishop of Faisalabad.

The key participants included Father Khalid Rasheed Assi, Advocate Shahid, and other social and religious leaders. The meeting emphasised the needfor protection,legal aid for victims and an end to discriminatory practices against minorities.

The commission called upon the government, civil society and international human rights organisations to ensure transparent and impartial investigations into these cases,providelegal and protective assistance to the victims and their families and work towards eliminating prejudiced attitudes against religious minorities.