Tragically, two Christian brothers were murdered after refusing to participate in drug trafficking for Muslim drug lords in Rachna Town, a suburb of Lahore. One brother died at the scene, while the other succumbed to his injuries on the way to the hospital.
The police have registered an FIR against the perpetrators, but no arrests have been made as of yet. Meanwhile, the family of the victims remains under constant threat from the murderers, who are still at large.
The British Asian Christian Association (BACA) visited the grieving family, offering legal support and committing to help them seek justice.
Please note: A graphic image of the attack is included at the very end of this post. Viewer discretion is strongly advised.
On 24th October 2024, two Christian brothers, Imran Denial (30) and Arslan Denial (24), were brutally shot and killed by drug lords Ali Butt, Qadir Butt, and their cohorts in the main bazaar of Rachna Town. The violence erupted after a heated argument when the brothers refused to sell drugs in their hair salon. Imran was killed on the spot, while Arslan succumbed to his injuries on the way to the hospital.
In their rampage, the assailants fired multiple rounds, not only taking the lives of the two brothers but also striking an innocent girl passing through the bazaar and injuring Waleed Masih, the cousin of Imran, as well as Shahid Masih.
The family is living in fear, as the murderers remain at large, and the police have not yet apprehended anyone involved.
On 4th November, the British Asian Christian Association (BACA) visited the grieving family, offering condolences and support. BACA met with Usman Denial (20), the younger brother of Imran and Arslan, and their father, Denial Masih (53), a retired employee of Mayo Hospital Lahore, to offer their sympathy and assistance in seeking justice for the tragic loss.
Usman Masih recounted the devastating events leading up to his brother Arslan’s tragic death. He told the British Asian Christian Association (BACA) that his older brother Imran had been feeling unwell for several days. On the evening of 24th October, Arslan accompanied Imran to a nearby hospital, and they returned to their family salon around 7:30 pm. Shortly after, Ali Butt, Qadir Butt, and their gang members—Malik Adeel, Haider Bhatti, Sultan Dogar, Muhammad Karamat, and others—stormed into the salon.
After requesting a shave, the gang began calling in drug users and attempted to sell drugs within the salon. Arslan, determined to keep their business honest, confronted Ali Butt, insisting that they stop selling drugs there.
Usman explained further:
“Ali Butt would often come for shaves and haircuts and would offer my brother Arslan the opportunity to sell drugs at our salon. But my brother always refused, telling him that we were a poor family and couldn’t afford to engage in crime. He said it would bring dishonor to our family and endanger our safety in the community.”
This refusal sparked a heated verbal argument between Ali Butt and Arslan, which no one could have anticipated would escalate into such violence. At one point Ali Butt allegedly accused Arslan of informing the police about their drug dealings.
Ali Butt, enraged, shouted, “Let’s show these chuhras the consequences of crossing us.”
Without warning, Ali Butt began hurling abuses at the three brothers in the salon. He dragged Imran, who had tried to intervene and calm the situation, out of the salon. Ali Butt then pulled out a gun and, with ruthless intent, shot Imran in the back of the head. The bullet caused severe bleeding, and Imran collapsed to the ground.
Witnessing his brother fall, Arslan rushed forward, kneeling beside him in an attempt to save him. But before he could do anything, Qadir Butt drew his gun and shot Arslan in the head. A second bullet struck Arslan in the neck. Both brothers fell to the ground, their lives violently taken in a senseless act of rage.
Waleed Masih, the cousin of Imran and Arslan, was also inside the salon at the time, having come in for a shave. As the murderers continued their rampage, Qadir Butt aimed his weapon at Waleed with the intention to kill him. However, the bullet fortunately missed his vital organs and instead struck his thigh.
After causing this havoc, the killers fled, firing countless shots as they ran. In the chaos, an innocent young girl, who was passing through the bazaar, was tragically shot and killed by a stray bullet.
With tears in his eyes, Usman Masih continued to recount the horror:
“Imran died on the spot, but my brother Arslan was still breathing, though with great difficulty.”
Usman immediately called emergency services at 1122, and the rescue teams arrived swiftly at the scene. They rushed Imran and Arslan to the nearby Mian Sheikh Ul Bazar Hospital. Sadly, Imran was declared dead upon arrival, while Arslan was recommended for emergency treatment at Mayo Hospital Lahore.
“Arslan took his last breath on the way to Mayo Hospital,” Usman shared, his voice breaking. “They have destroyed our world in the blink of an eye.”
The profound grief and sense of loss were palpable as Usman spoke to the British Asian Christian Association (BACA), still in disbelief over the brutal deaths of his beloved brothers.
The bodies of Imran and Arslan were taken to Mayo Hospital Lahore for postmortem, and the following day, on 25th October, both brothers were laid to rest in a local graveyard. Their untimely deaths have left the entire family devastated and overwhelmed with grief.
Usman reflected on how a refusal to allow the sale of illicit drugs led to an outburst of rage and cruelty that resulted in the deaths of his brothers—two innocent men who believed in earning an honest living and despised the destructive world of drug dealing.
Local police have registered a First Information Report (FIR) [No. 4858/24] under charges of murder (Section 302), attempted murder (Section 324), rioting (Section 148), and unlawful assembly (Section 159) of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC). Despite raiding the homes of Ali Butt and Qadir Butt, the suspects had already fled the area with their families, leaving their residences locked from the outside.
Daniel Masih, the father of the deceased, told BACA:
“It has been 10 days since the incident, but the police have not yet managed to arrest any of the culprits.”
The lack of progress in the investigation has left the family in a state of constant fear, as the murderers remain at large. Daniel expressed grave concern for their safety, knowing that the killers could return at any moment to harm them. He urged BACA to bring their plea to higher authorities, demanding the arrest of those responsible for this heinous crime and to ensure the protection of his family.
The family is overwhelmed with grief and pain from the tragic loss of their beloved sons. The police’s failure to arrest the murderers has left the family vulnerable, with their safety increasingly at risk as the perpetrators remain at large.
Daniel Masih, deeply concerned for his family’s security and the pursuit of justice, has appealed to BACA for assistance. He has requested that BACA hire a skilled solicitor to represent the family and fight for justice for the murder of his innocent sons, Imran and Arslan.
To ensure they receive competent legal support, BACA is working to raise £2000, which is required to hire a solicitor capable of securing justice for the family. The community’s support is crucial to helping the Masih family pursue justice during this challenging time. You can help us offer this assistance by donating (here).
Juliet Chowdhry, Trustee of the British Asian Christian Association, expressed grave concern over the apparent lack of fear shown by the killers of Arslan and Imran, highlighting how corruption and Pakistan’s flawed Qisas and Diyas laws enable powerful criminals to evade justice. She remarked:
“The ruthless murders of Arslan and Imran underscore a disturbing culture of impunity, where wealthy perpetrators exploit the corrupt system to escape accountability. Pakistan’s Qisas and Diyas laws, intended for reconciliation, are too often weaponized by the affluent, allowing them to evade justice through coercion and compensatory bribes. This horrific cycle leaves innocent families, like the Masihs, with little hope for justice.”
Despite these challenges, the Masih family remains steadfast in their commitment to pursue justice. Mrs. Chowdhry has assured them of BACA’s full support in their fight, emphasizing the organization’s dedication to stand by them through every step of this difficult journey.
Warning: The following contains a graphic image of the murder scene, which may be distressing to some viewers.
Please proceed with caution, as the image below depicts the tragic and violent events surrounding the murders of Arslan and Imran. Viewer discretion is advised.
