A Christian family from Gujar Khan is hiding in fear after a gang of six Muslim brothers from their neighbourhood descended upon their home and assaulted all the family members that were in the house.
On 20th September 2018 at 1pm Bashir Masih (58 yrs) and his wife Grace Masih (60 yrs) were attacked while standing at the gate of their house after being told that their ritual impurity was contaminating the local air. The ageing couple refused to go inside and three male neighbours ran over and pushed the pushed the couple into their house whilst also kicking Bashir hard on his legs telling him not to stand in their presence again. Bashir’s wife Grace was also injured as she struggled to help her husband from the onslaught until a daughter-in-law ran to the doorway and quickly bolted the door keeping the assailants out. The family did not report the incident to the police due to a previous exhibited indifference to their concerns despite Bashir and his having to be treated at hospital.
The following morning at 4am on 21st September, 12 men including the six known brothers from next door entered the home of Bashir and his family whilst they were asleep and beat them with sticks and the butt of guns with which two of the assailants were armed. The women of the family were also shamed by having their clothing ripped from their bodies as the men ogled them. The attackers then went on a rampage destroying property in the Christian family’s house after which they set their house and car on fire. This was the most recent of a series of vicious assaults on the beleaguered family.
Since last year the six brothers living in the house next door have attempted to intimidate the Pak-Christian family into abandoning their house by threats and harassing phone calls, because they hated having Christians next door to them. Initially the unreasonable insistence by the Muslim neighbours were ignored by the family, who thought they couldn’t be serious about their illegal demand, however, it was not long before the retired couple and their five married children found out just how serious their neighbours were.
When Bashir Masih (58 yrs) bought the land on which his family were to build their future home in 2014 from savings accrued through years of hard work resulting in a sizeable retirement fund, there was no angst or schism against their presence in the community. The family had lived close by for many years previously in rented accommodation with other Christians but wanted to own something of their own and could not have foreseen the polarisation this would cause.
Without causing any untoward disturbance and conscious of the sensibilities of their many neighbours the family worked as quietly as possible without working unsociable hours. Their diligent efforts resulted in a structure being erected in 2016 and with further work the home became liveable with some electricity and other features by early 2017.
The family moved in with great joy and an eagerness to establish their future in Gujar Khan the place of their birth proud that they finally had a place of their own to call home. A legacy was beginning.
Within weeks of moving in the Muslim brothers next door began to challenge the Christian men in the household on their right to dwell in a street were only Muslims were residing. The Muslim gang would try to coax a fight and would threaten to kill the Christians if they did not leave the area and hand over possession of their property to them. The Muslim neighbours then entered a period of regular abuse towards the beleaguered Christians, they would block their pathways as they travelled to work or to shops and would be a general nuisance with noise and shouting.
Threats that we shouted at the Christians daily were “When are you Chura leaving the house and giving it to us, stop defiling our land” and “leave now before you are killed or accused of blasphemy.”
As frightened as the Christians were they adamantly refused to leave their home which they had struggled so much to attain. This only served to anger the Muslim men who increased the campaign of attrition and brazenly opened fire around the Christian family’s property without hitting anything in an attempt to further intimidate them in June 2017. The Muslim men are involved in drug trafficking and have a large arsenal of guns which they are not afraid to display.
The family reported the incident to the local police at Gujar Khan Police Station. At that time the police refused registration of a crime and told the Masih that if they pursued a First Information Report (FIR) they themselves would be charged with blasphemy. Without pulling any punches local police advised the family that the next-door neighbours of Bashir are linked to serious criminal networks who the police would rather not confront. Instead the police forced an already perplexed family into a state of terror leaving them to dread potential blasphemy charges.
Imtiaz Masih (30 yrs) son of Bashir Masih
The family went home distraught and decided to avoid any contact with the neighbours to prevent any further escalation of the threats to them. They got up early when required for work and travelled home later looking out for any sign of the neighbour. This seemed to calm things down for no other reason then the fact that their was no contact between the two families and the recent visit to the police sent out a slight warning.
However after two months of peace the intimidation began again full throttle with regular abuse being shouted at the family and other random shooting incidents which the family had to endure with no help from local police.
A local neighbour heard screaming which brought his attention to the burning house and car and he called emergency services dialing 1122. The fire rescue team provided ambulatory services to the bleeding and injured victims and immediately set about tackling the fires. They also made a call to the police who arrived 10 minutes later and interviewed the victims.
After the investigation they registered an official FIR for the first time under the name of accuser Bashir Masih. It is believed this was only undertaken because of the escalated concern from 1122 Emergency Services and the number of witnesses.
This most recent invasion of their home has left the family shaken and expelled from a home the couple purchased with their retirement fund saved after a lifetime of dedicated work. They have no choice but to stay with relatives while they fight for justice. The police have thus far been no help, as they authorities kowtow to criminal gangs.
The translation of the FIR Gujar Incident outline the family’s economic situation:
When Grace Masih (60) retired from her nursing career at the Health Department they bought the land of 12 Marla in Bhaga Gujar Khan and with her retirement money. Bashir Masih (58) was an ex-cleaner at the Health Department in Gular Khan until he retired two years ago and he started building the house on the land that they had purchased. The house was not yet fully completed when the family shifted here three years ago to avoid paying unnecessary rent on the other place.
Bashir Masih has 5 children, 4 sons, 1 daughter. All are married the names are: Fiyaz Masih (36) Sobia (31) Imtiaz (30) Adnan (29) Imran (28) Ahsan (26).
Out of the entire family only Imtiaz is still working in the Health Department. The home expenses are met through the pension of parents and Imtiaz’s sole salary. They own a second-hand van, which is for personal use as well as some business.
The names mentioned in the FIR of the attackers are 6 brothers who live in the next house to Bashir Masih.
Ripped clothing from one of the female family members.
Bashir Masih told Leader Officer Mehwish Bhatti the following:
“Everything was going fine until we shifted to our own home two years ago. These 6 brothers would threaten us verbally to leave this house but the family at first we did not take it too seriously.
“I reported another similar incident to the District Superintendent for Police (DSP) before but he didn’t take any action and in fact pressured and held it over our family to build relationships with the attackers. He told us to drop the charges or blasphemy charges would be laid against us.
“We were told that they would send the whole family to Adyala Jail (Islamabad). My family and I caved in to the pressure and had no choice but to accept it.
“The attackers are involved in the business of drug supply and are in the form of a big gang. None of the attackers have been arrested yet.The police are not cooperating at all. We are living with some relatives temporarily.”
In the September 21, 2018 FIR Mr Masih reported:
Respected Sir SHO police station Gujar Khan,
Dear sir, It is requested that I am a permanent resident of Mozoo Bhagana and the ex-servant of the Health Department. For the past 4-5 years I have been living in this house along with my family. Yesterday [about 1:00pm] 20/09/18 Thursday while standing at my own door Ahsan s/o Munawar Hussain attacked me and my wife. Due to which my wife was injured and we went for medical treatment. At 4:16am my son Fiyaz Masih got a call from Kamran where he was threatening my son that, “You must leave this house within three days or else you all will be in trouble.” He verbally abused my son severely.
Today on 21/09/18 at 3:30pm I along with my three sons Imran, Ahsan, Adnan and the women of the house were at home when Kamran came with a pistol, Adnan with a pistol , Ahsan with explosives, Mehran, Kashif, Raja Sikander with sticks and 6 unknown people entered my house by jumping in and started beating me and my sons with the butt of the pistol and sticks, damaged all our goods and torn off the clothes of our female family members. Beside that, they burnt my vehicle, a white van and also took gold jewelry of 4 tola. Another neighbor informed rescue 1122 who came on time to help us. So, it is requested to please take a serious notice against the culprits.
on 22nd September the family was taken to the DHQ ( District Head Quarters) Hospital, Gujar Khan for a crime medical report. Later they were transferred to Holy Family Hospital, Islamabad for the report as the correct medical assessment could not be made at DHQ Hospital.
The culprits have now been charged with the following crimes yet they have already been granted bail exacerbating the security risks for the family and apparently for anyone who might convict them.
According to the FIR a hearing is listed for the Session Court in Gujar Khan on 5th October, worryingly a judge failed to turn up for a previous date on the 29th September with no given reason. It is believed further delays will be forthcoming further reducing likelihood of justice.
The family have requested help for a safe house for their large family (£300 per month) and for a solicitor at £600. If you would like to help Bashir and his family you can donate by clicking (here)
Copy of FIR
An FIR has been registered against the Muslim family under the following crimes:
The criminal charges are:
25-D Causing annoyance, intimidation and harassment.
Any person, with or without concealing his telephone number or other forms of identity causing persistent annoyance, intimidation, fear, harassment or threats of harm to another person’s repute or body through
obnoxious telephone calls, messages, or other communication shall be punishable with imprisonment of either description for a term extending up to three years of fine in excess of rupees twenty thousand or both.
Section 436
436. Mischief by fire or explosive substance with intent to destroy house, etc.:
Whoever commits mischief by fire or any explosive substance, intending to cause, or knowing it to be likely that he with thereby cause, the destruction of any building which is ordinarily used as a place of worship or as a human dwelling or as a place for the custody of property shall be punished with imprisonment for life, or with imprisonment of either description for a term which 168[shall not be less than three years nor more than] 168 ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.
Section 452
452. House-trespass after preparation for hurt, assault or wrongful restraint:
Whoever commits house-trespass having made preparation for causing hurt to any person or for assaulting any person, or for wrongfully restraining any person, or for putting any person in fear of hurt, or of assault, or of wrongful restraint, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine.
Section 354
354. Assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty:
Whoever assaults or uses criminal force to any woman, intending to outrage or knowing it to be likely that he will thereby outrage her modesty, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years or with fine, or with both.
Section 506
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.
If threat be to cause death or grievous hurt, etc.:
And if the threat be to cause death or grievous hurt, or to cause the destruction of any property by fire, or to cause an offence punishable with death or imprisonment for life, or with imprisonment for a term which may extend to seven years, or to impute unchastity to a woman, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, or with fine, or with both.
Section 148 and section 149
148.Rioting, armed with deadly weapon:
Whoever is guilty of rioting, being armed with a deadly weapon or with anything which, used as a weapon of offence, is likely to cause death, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three 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.
25-D Causing annoyance, intimidation and harassment.
Any person, with or without concealing his telephone number or other forms of identity causing persistent annoyance, intimidation, fear, harassment or threats of harm to another person’s repute or body through
Obnoxious telephone calls, messages, or other communication shall be punishable with imprisonment of either description for a term extending up to three years of fine in excess of rupees twenty thousand or both.
