Nazir Masih, a 76-year-old Christian living in Sargodha, Pakistan has died following a brutal attack by a mob following accusations of blasphemy. Local property agent Muhammad Jahangir alleged that he had burned the Koran.
The attack began as a mob gathered around Masih’s home, demanding his execution. Despite the rapid arrival of the police and the Sargodha Peace Committee, the situation quickly spiralled out of control. The mob looted and set fire to Masih’s small shoe factory and attempted to burn down his home – with his family still inside. Only the intervention of the police, who had to use gas shells, quelled the disturbance.
However, the mob then managed to seize Masih from police protection, subjecting him to a vicious assault. Videos circulating on social media show the assailants pelting him with bricks, causing severe injuries. Even the ambulance transporting Masih to safety was attacked.
Masih was initially treated in hospital at Sargodha before being transferred to the Combined Military Hospital, Rawalpindi, for major surgery. Despite eight days in intensive care, he died and his body was returned to his grieving family for burial in a local graveyard.
Juliet Chowdhry of the British Asian Christian Association (BACA) said: ‘I am deeply saddened by the tragic passing of Nazir. The violence, particularly in the presence of law enforcement, is utterly reprehensible, and I hope his story will lead to much-needed change in Pakistan.
‘This is now a murder case. BACA has provided the family with a solicitor and protection. We need to raise £1,500 to cover the cost of a solicitor and a further £250 a month to cover rent for the family in a safe house.
‘More broadly, Pakistan urgently needs to address systemic issues within its law enforcement, judiciary, and government to ensure the safety and protection of all citizens. The current laws are ineffective. Bias, corruption, and lack of professionalism contribute to hostility and hatred toward minorities living there.
‘I am also concerned about the lack of international intervention in such matters, as Pakistan risks becoming a breeding ground for extremism that threatens global security. The blind provision of foreign aid by Western nations with diplomatic ties to Pakistan may inadvertently exacerbate an already volatile situation.’
