On May 8th, Shahid Masih, a 35-year-old Christian dairy worker, was unjustly accused of theft and subjected to horrific torture by his employer, Muhammad Ijaz. In the village of Ghang Sheikhupura, Ijaz allegedly forced Shahid to ingest a corrosive substance, leaving him unconscious and in critical condition. Realizing the severity of his injuries, the perpetrators rushed Shahid to the Trauma Centre in Sheikhupura. However, despite initial medical intervention, Shahid’s condition worsened, necessitating his transfer to Mayo Hospital in Lahore for specialized care.
For eleven agonizing days, Shahid fought for his life at Mayo Hospital but tragically succumbed to his injuries on May 18, 2024. His untimely death has left his wife, Sonia (38), and their six children facing an uncertain future without their primary provider. Shahid’s body was handed over to Sonia Bibi after a postmortem at Civil Hospital Sheikhupura and was buried at a local graveyard on Walton Road, Lahore, where Shahid’s younger brother Zahid Masih lives with his family.
On May 21, the British Asian Christian Association (BACA) contacted Sonia Bibi, offering to pay off her debt and release her children from Muhammad Ijaz. Sonia informed BACA that she wanted her three children to be free from the yoke of slavery and her family away from the place where her husband had been murdered by his employers. Earlier this week Sonia Bibi was set free and moved to the home of her sister-in-law.
Sonia informed a BACA officer that she needed to move to Sheikhupura to attend court hearings, as frequent travel from Lahore was impractical. “I had no choice but to relocate from my sister-in-laws home because our family was too large,” she said. ” It was very difficult for my sister-in-law to support me with my six children.” Sonia made a request for BACA to rent a house for her until the court’s decision. “It is impossible for me to travel from Lahore to Sheikhupura for court hearings.”
The British Asian Christian Association (BACA) has secured a temporary residence for Sonia and her six children in a Christian Colony within Sheikhupura. This location, a ten-minute rickshaw ride from the District Courts, will facilitate Sonia’s attendance at court proceedings.
BACA is seeking immediate donations to fund this home, which costs £150 per month. Our goal is to cover this expense for six months while also providing Sonia with training in clothes stitching, enabling her to earn a living and support her family. Additionally, BACA has committed to covering Sonia’s cost of living for three months as she adjusts to life after the tragic death of her husband. Sonia has no legal advocate and we are hoping to raise funds for a solicitor which will cost £1500.
Your generous donation can make a significant difference in their lives. To support this cause, please donate (here).
Your generous donation can make a significant difference in their lives. To help us achieve this goal, please donate (here).
Sonia elaborated on the court case, stating that the culprits, Muhammad Ijaz and his brother Muhammad Nazar, are on pre-arrest bail and have offered her a five marla plot as blood money. However, Sonia has steadfastly refused the offer and is determined to seek justice for her husband’s murder.
“This harrowing account of the brutal murder of a young man is truly appalling. Shahid was in the prime of his life and the sole provider for his six young children. The fact that an accusation of theft could escalate to such extreme violence and murder underscores the lack of rule of law and the pervasive religious bigotry in Pakistan. Christians in Pakistan are treated as pariahs, enduring severe discrimination and persecution.”
Pakistan has been considered a Country of Particular Concern by the US since 2018 as recommended by the United States Commission for International Religious Freedom (click here) and a Country of Concern by the UK (click here) since 2015. In February 2024, the UK’s Foreign Secretary issued a statement regarding elections in Pakistan, expressing concerns about their fairness and inclusivity (click here). Lord Cameron wrote:
“The UK urges authorities in Pakistan to uphold fundamental human rights, including free access to information and the rule of law. This includes the right to a fair trial through adherence to due process and an independent and transparent judicial system, free from interference.”
Due to crime, war, terrorism, disease, and natural disasters, Pakistan remains on a list of countries deemed too dangerous for British citizens to travel to (click here).
