A Christian family was attacked by a mob on Saturday, May 25, following allegations of blasphemy in Sargodha, Punjab.
According to Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), the family was accused of burning pages of the Quran.
The incident occurred in the early morning when a mob invaded the home and shoe factory of Nazir Gill Masih in Gillwala Mujahid colony.
Mr. Masih was beaten severely, and his property was destroyed by fire. While most family members escaped, Mr. Masih was left critically injured and was later hospitalized.
“The attacks were likely driven by business rivalry and personal disputes. We expect more clarity after the investigation,” said Naeem Yousaf Gill, Executive Director of the National (Catholic) Commission for Justice and Peace.
Archbishop Joseph Arshad of Islamabad-Rawalpindi expressed his dismay, saying he “was shocked and very sad to learn about the attack.” The prelate described the incident as “inhuman.”
During his visit to Sargodha, he urged for better protective policies, “Nobody is allowed to take the law into their own hands. The government must introduce strict policies to prevent such incidents.”
In Pakistan, blasphemy can result in death or life imprisonment and is often used to justify mob violence.
Shadid Mobeen, a relative of the victim and contributor to ACN’s Religious Freedom in the World report, stressed the importance of international intervention, “The international community and media must pressure Pakistan to protect its religious minorities from extremist actions.”
ACN has condemned the violence and stands with the affected family and the broader Christian community.
The organization also recalled similar events like the riots in Jaranwala on August 16, 2023, triggered by comparable accusations, highlighting the persistent danger to religious minorities in the region.
