KHANEWAL, Pakistan: A young Christian agricultural worker in Pakistan’s Punjab province has alleged that she was the victim of an attempted rape while working in a cotton field, in a case that has renewed concerns about the vulnerability of minority women working in rural areas.
The incident occurred on 4 July 2026 in a village in Khanewal District, where 24-year-old Saba Maryam had been working to help support her family. According to the First Information Report (FIR), Saba was harvesting cotton when a local man, identified as Asif Ali, allegedly approached her, attempted to sexually assault her and threatened her with serious consequences if she reported the incident.
According to the complaint, Saba resisted the alleged attack and cried out for help. Hearing her screams, two nearby villagers, Muhammad Ashraf and Moon Masih, rushed to the scene, prompting the accused to allegedly flee before carrying out the assault. Both witnesses later recorded their statements with the police, supporting Saba’s account of the incident.
Following Saba’s complaint, police registered a case and launched an investigation. The accused, Asif Ali, was subsequently arrested and produced before the relevant court, which remanded him to judicial custody pending further investigation and legal proceedings.
Saba and her family say the incident has left them traumatised and fearful for their safety. Like many members of Pakistan’s Christian minority, the family survives on low-paid agricultural labour and has limited means to pursue legal action without assistance.
Our legal team has been providing free legal support to Saba and her family, closely monitoring the progress of the investigation and legal proceedings to ensure the case is pursued fairly and impartially.
While the arrest and judicial remand of the accused mark an important step in the legal process, the case remains before the courts. We hope that the investigation will be conducted thoroughly and transparently and that, if the allegations are proven in court, those responsible will be held accountable in accordance with the law. We also pray that Saba and her family will receive the justice, protection and support they need as they continue their pursuit of justice.
