Saleem Masih (22 yrs) was beaten to death for rinsing himself off in the tube well of Muslim land owners in Choonia District, Kasur.
It should be noted that many Muslim men have been permitted to rinse themselves off in the well for many years but it was the fact that a ‘ritually unclean’ Christian dared to use the well in this fashion that led to his murder. Read more (here)
In less than a year, the slayers of innocent Saleem Masih were set free on bail by the court and the hapless father Ghafoor has found himself struggling to get justice.
Gafoor Masih never misses a court hearing and travels above 60 Km to reach the court to ensure justice is gained for his murdered son.
We have documented threats to the family by friends and family of the murderers who have been warning Ghafoor to drop the case.
Ghafoor Masih has also complained that police duped him into signing a document in which Ali and Shera Dogar two named culprits were removed.
He alleges that the documents that he signed were blank when they were signed which included a police First Information Report (FIR).
During a court hearing on 14th January 2021, Advocate for the Lahore High Court, Miss Sumeera Hussain launched an application to add Ali and Shera Dogar to the original police FIR, so that they face trial.
On 10th of March, Sumera Hussain presented Ghafoor Masih before Judge Chunia at the court of Additional Sessions Kasur, so that his statement could be recorded.
Ghafoor Masih broke out in tears while narrating the murder of his son Saleem Masih. He said:
“I am uneducated, and the police deceived me to sign blank papers for the exclusion of Shera Dogar and Ali from the murder investigation.
“They said they would hire me a solicitor but used those signed papers for ulterior motives”
“When I heard that both Shera Dogar and Ali have been excluded from the FIR, I went back to the police station but they didn’t register my complaint.
“They let me go through the whole account and told me they would pen it down later”
Advocate Sumeera Hussain, said:
“The statement of Waris Masih, an eye witness, could not be recorded as defense counsel began a longwinded attack on Ghafoor Masih, as he tried to refute any impropriety in the initial police report.”
She spoke about the current situation with the case, and explained:
“I am trying to redress the damages done to the case”
“The court will soon order the reopening of investigation with the inclusion of Shera and Ali.”
The perpetrators of the crime have not denied the killing of Saleem Masih they have said it was an accident andoccured after he had stolen potatoes and turmeric. Though before dying on his way to hospital Saleem Masih was able to tell his father and his uncle that the named men had beaten him with an iron rod.
On 24th March Waris Masih the brother of Ghafoor Masih was able to give his statement in court.
The next hearing will be held sometime in April.
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