John R. Houk
© November 16, 2012
About a week ago I noticed an update from the Facebook group Free Hector Aleem. I admit I have been hesitant to post it. Here is why.
I noticed an article written by Shamim Masih that appeared to be a balanced report that focused on Hector Aleem. Here is a brief profile Masih I found at one his articles found at Salem-News.com.
"I am Christian rights activist and freelancer Pakistani journalist specializing in writing about Christians rights for the different papers in the world. My aim is to create a peaceful environment in the society and to help eliminate Christian persecution through my writing as I bring the plight of these brave people under the spotlight of the whole world."
Shamim Masih was born in Sheikhopura's village and raised in Gujranwala, a city in Pakistan's Punjab province. He earned his Bachelors (sic) Degree from the University of the Punjab, Lahore majoring in English, Economics and Statistics; he also received a Masters Degree in Business Administration.
Shamim's diverse working experience includes banking and finance; serving as a social worker/counselor in interfaith harmony, Christian Solidarity activism and he is a writer and author.
He began working in the social sector in 2003; from 2009 onward it has been a full time role for Shamim. He has done fund raising for earthquake affected people; Shamim reached the affected areas in Pakistan in 2005 and supplied the necessary required material to the people of Toba Tak Sigh affected in 2009. He has have visited the slum settlement and established the stitching and beauticians centers in different areas of the Islamabad.
As a freelance writer and author, Shamim has written for different papers in the world; his expertise is in writing articles highlighting different social issues. He has served as freelance chief reporter and column writer in “Minority Times” in Islamabad, and a number of Shamim's articles have been published in local papers as well. (From Salem-News.com Staff Page – scroll down - Masih’s profile is at the bottom)
As of this writing I do not remember the exact article that I read so I Googled Masih and Hector Aleem. Here is the investigative report posted by Shamim Masih on Hector Aleem.
[SlantRight Editor: More from Shamim Masih about either Hector Aleem or legitimate persecution of Christians in Pakistan to be forth coming.]
JRH 11/16/12
************************************
High Profile Hector Aleem Dragged Christian Families of Rawal Town Islamabad onto the Road
Displaced families of Rawal Town dwelling under the sky; cold could be hard to live for them.
By Shamim Masih
Oct-18-2012 01:08
Displaced families members of Rawal Town claiming for rights and Shamim at far right
(ISLAMABAD, Pakistan) - Pakistani police have arrested a Christian human rights activist after a member of militant Islamic organization accused him of sending a blasphemous text message from his cell phone.
Hector Aleem, 55, the director of a non-governmental organization, Peace Worldwide, is said to have raised a voice for the local Christians, who were locked in a land dispute with Capital Development Authority (CDA). Demolition of a church built at the controversial property of Park Road Rawal Town added to the ongoing tension.
Kausur Hector, wife of the fresh blasphemy accused told the Centre for Legal Aid Assistance and Settlement (CLAAS) that elements unhappy with Hector's intervention in the church property case have “trapped him” in a false blasphemy case. (ANS reported in 2009)
Facts behind the story:
A God fearing lady, Susan from USA, wrote me an email in May, 2012, let me give you her statement “I got to know the Aleems, through a friend of a friend. They are friends with Melanie Woods. I happen across their situation through Melanie, starting exchanging messages through face-book with Hector's kids. They are delightful young adult kids, who love the Lord. I pray for them, encourage them and help in other ways when I can
Please investigate for me about Hector Aleem and get back to me please? The family seems to be in a difficult situation, Hector has been in jail since 2009. I am pretty sure; they live not far from Islamabad Pakistan. I am not real familiar with Islamabad; I do not know how close you and the Aleems are. Since I have your permission, I will pass on your phone number to them. I look forward to hearing from you”
Since I got this email we exchanged views through emails’ and on her request I went to investigate the matter and bringing the fact found behind the scene:
Findings:
According to Basharat Khokher, Hector Aleem was running an organization with the name “peace worldwide” and produced good repute worldwide on the name of helping the poor Christians in Pakistan but the facts behind this were bitter to chew”. He has been involved in many unethical activities which brought him to this stage now.
In 2008, he was involved in the land mafia group and grabbed the piece of land in Rawal Town, Islamabad unlawfully and taking money from the poor Christians he made them to sit on piece of land, which he did not own or bought for them but of government’s land. He made a church there unlawfully to have sympathy of the world with him. He called many Christians families from different cities of the country to Islamabad. Poor Christians far from different villages came there and become the pray of his ensnare. He took Rs.3500/ from 1000 families on the name of registration for the land and thus collected Rs. 35, 00,000/- from the poor Christians.
On August 09, 2008 a delegation from the government include Mumtaz Alam Gillanin (Minister Human Rights), joint secretary Khalid Amin and Farid Khan (secretary), Khush Dil khan (Deputy Secretary) came to him on the piece of the land he was holding unlawfully to negotiate and to provide the alternate land for the poor Christian families.
But the stubborn Hector Aleem didn’t listen to them; he went to Prime Minister of Pakistan at that time Mr. Yousaf Raza Gillani who showed his sympathy towards poor Christians and made a committee to investigate the issues raised by him intentionally.
Meanwhile Hector took passports from few Christians include Bashaarat Khokhar working for him promising them to visa stamp for abroad.
A committee includes Dr. Moen Masood (SSP) Ishaq Warraich (DSP) and few other officials went to investigation and found him guilty.
Chief Minister Punjab took action against them in November 2008 and police arrested Christians involved in it including, Basharat Khokher, David Akmal, Arif, Qazi Asharaf, Hanok Bhatti and Hector Aleem.
Hector Aleem than planned a false story involving his Muslim friends to file an FIR against him of a blasphemy case, in which he took Basharat Khokher with him.
“I have been falsely implicated in a blasphemy case. I am a human rights activist. How could I hurt feelings of Muslim brothers? I never used SMS for any kind of purpose,” Hector Aleem told the CLAAS fact-finding team.
And then he intentionally knotted his so called spokesman Basharat Khokher saying he has been using my cell phone and he may have done this.
Government took action against all the Christians families living there unlawfully and dispersed denizen. Those innocent Christians families were pulled down from the land and have been wondering in the cold winter session of Pakistan from one place to another.
Displaced Christian’s families then moved on the road track of sector G-7 Islamabad and Julius Salik (Ex. Federal Minister) plunged into the matter and requested the official to provide them an independent piece of land.
J. Salik then left the displaced families on the track and went on his way, luckily Mr. Akram Masih Gill became the member national assembly and he took those families and settled down them on CDA land in H-9 sector Islamabad.
Since then, displaced Christians of Rawal Town are living under the sky; they are not allowed to construct a roof for them there. They are living there in tents since 2009, with no water provision, no electricity, and no sewerage system. On my way to finding the displaced families of Rimsha case, I went there and found them living in pathetic situation ever since then.
Observation:
When I went in interviewing the different people to reach the facts, I met many peoples, Christians and Muslims as well. Based on the statements of different people, I can say that Hector Aleem has no sympathy for Christian people but greed of money and power. He or his family has no interaction with Christian people in Pakistan. His family is still mixed up Muslims and feels comfortable with them, but claiming the world and gaining benefits from the Christians in the world on the name of Christianity. He had been involved in unethical activities and human trafficking. There are cases pending against him of human trafficking and he is not paying them off the money he took from them on the name of sending them abroad. In 2009, one of his close friend who requested not mention his name said, he was neither sincere to Christians to his Muslim friends. Now I can just pray for him and his family, and I pray to God to forgive him for his wrong doings.
_____________________________________
© 2011 Salem-News.com. All opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Salem-News.com.
No comments:
Post a Comment