SHEIKHUPURA, PUNJAB — In a shocking incident, the family of a local pastor fell victim to a brutal attack and religious persecution at the hands of an intolerant Muslim gang in Sheikhupura, Punjab.
Adding insult to injury, the perpetrators explicitly declared that Christians were not allowed to own a milk shop in the area.
The perpetrators of the violence have now threatened to kill the Christian family of they pursue justice and if they continue to run their small milk and yoghurt business.
On November 25th, Amir Masih was viciously assaulted while purchasing groceries from Muhammad Abdul Rehman’s shop. Present at the scene were individuals identified as Muhammad Naveed Akbar, Abdul Rehman Gujar, Usman Gujar, Gullu, Adil Gujar, and Buga Gujar. The situation escalated when Muhammad Naveed Akbar made an offensive remark about Mr. Masih’s Christian identity, “This chuhra is quite arrogant.” “Lets teach him a lesson”.
Upon hearing such offensive remarks, Mr. Masih responded that he was neither arrogant nor disrespectful to anyone in the area. He emphasized that his father, a pastor, had instilled in him religious teachings that never advocated vanity. Despite his fair defense, the group became enraged and commenced beating Mr. Masih violently.
As Mr. Masih arrived home and recounted the severe beating he had received from the gang, an informant arrived and informed Pastor Rasheed (48 yrs) that Muhammad Abdul Rehman and other Muslims were attacking his other son Ansar Masih (25 yrs) who was working at the family milk and yoghurt shop., Pastor Rasheed, along with his sons Amir, Danish, and Daud Masih, rushed to rescue Ansar Masih. When they attempted to save Ansar, they too were assaulted by the gang. In the midst of the scuffle, Amir was struck on his right shoulder, and Ansar’s head suffered a severe blow from a club, resulting in profuse bleeding.
Expressing discriminatory views, the attackers asserted that individuals referred to derogatorily as chuhra were not meant to operate a milk shop in a Muslim area. Muhammad Naveed expressed, “You are meant to clean and sweep in our homes. Chooras are not meant to run a milk shop in a Muslim area. We will not let you continue with your store.”
Pastor Rasheed Masih ran to a place of safety and promptly called 15 and 1122 for police and medical assistance. The culprits fled, issuing threats of serious consequences to the family. The injured Ansar and Amir received first aid from the 1122 team and were then taken to Trauma Centre Sheikhupura.
At the Trauma Centre, the gang launched another attack, attempting to beat Pastor Rasheed and his sons once again. Acting swiftly, Pastor Rasheed sought immediate help and rushed to the police post within the Trauma Centre premises, where an Assistant Sub Inspector (ASI) was on duty. The ASI promptly walked to the incident area, causing the enraged gang to flee.
Perplexed by the unwarranted hostility, Pastor Rasheed informed BACA, stating, “I don’t know what wrong we have done to them. We have been living here for a long time and started the milk shop some eight years ago. We have no enmity with anyone, but all of a sudden, they have started abusing us and threatening us to leave this place and the milk shop.”
Edward Masih, our field officer, said, “It’s deeply distressing to learn that Pastor Rasheed and his family continue to face threats from the same gang. The nature of these threats, including the demand to abandon the pursuit of justice and close their milk and yoghurt shop, is appalling. The added menace of threats involving death and harm to the women in their household only intensifies the gravity of the situation.”
A medico-legal certificate (No. 3680/2023) confirmed injuries to Ansar’s head and bruises on Amir’s right shoulder. Rasheed Masih filed an application against the culprits at Saddar Police Station Sheikhupura, leading to the registration of FIR No. 3089/23 for intimidation, rioting and injury. These crimes are listed under sections 506, 337, 147, and 149 of the Pakistan Penal Code (see end of article). As of now, the police has not yet arrested the culprit.
The family is seeking assistance in securing legal representation as they contend with the false charges leveled against them. To support their quest for justice and acquittal, BACA aims to raise a minimum of £1500. Your contribution can make a significant impact on their legal battle. If you’re willing to help, please consider donating to our Pakistan fund (here). Your support will play a crucial role in ensuring the family’s access to proper legal representation and a fair chance at justice.
Juliet Chowdhry, a trustee for the British Asian Christian Association, expressed concern over the recent attack on innocent Christians, linking it to a perceived threat to a larger Muslim grocery store. She highlighted the unfortunate situation in Pakistan’s justice system, which, when implemented, allows jealous business rivals to easily undermine and destroy their Christian competition.
Juliet Chowdhry, pointed out, “the pervasive hatred against Christians and other minorities in textbooks, media, and the treatment by authorities has cemented their pariah status. This systemic discrimination pushes them towards undesirable employment, such as in the sewage industry or enslavement in brick kilns. As a result, affluent Muslims often feel justified in denigrating, attacking, and even killing Christians over trivial disputes.”
She emphasized the ‘urgent need for a profound shift in Pakistan’s laws, social environment, and the behavior of authorities’. However, she lamented that ‘Pakistan currently shows little inclination for such transformative changes’.
| 147. | Punishment for rioting: Whoever is guilty of rioting, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both. |
| 149. | Every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object: If an offence is committed by any member of an unlawful assembly in prosecution of the common object of that assembly, or such as the members of that assembly knew to be likely to be committed in prosecution of that object, every person who, at the time of the committing of that offence, is a member of the same assembly, is guilty of that offence. |
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| 506. | Punishment for criminal intimidation: Whoever commences the offence of criminal intimidation shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years or with fine or with both.
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