Sargodha: Human Rights Focus Pakistan (HRFP) highly condemned the murder of Nazir Masih, who has been attacked on 25 May 2024 in Sargodha city of Punjab, Pakistan  HRFP team has seen from the facts during visiting the incident site on 25th and 26th May 2024 and after interviews of different stakeholders including the family of victim, street fellows, witnesses, police officials, and medical staff that it was an issue of personal grudge from Muslim Street fellows while Nazir Masih was in critical health condition from day 1st. During Nazir Masih’s hospitalization most of the information remained hidden by the administration, even from their family, HRFP added.

As per HRFP Fact Finding Report, on 25 May 2024 the violent mob attacked on Christian families in Sargodha for false blasphemy allegations on them. Nazir Masih and his son Sultan Masih alleged that Quranic pages were scattered in front of their factory. The men who accused them, called the people, clerics, and Islamic students to attack on them, HRFP added.  

Nazir Masih and his son Sultan Masih, the owners of small business Shoe factory located in Mujahid Colony, Sargodha were attacked by the violent mob for accusing of desecrating the Quranic pages and throwing them on the road in front of their factory.

A violent mob attacked and victimized Nazir Masih, Sultan Masih, and families, and brutally injured them, and vandalized their business and home as well. While they were running the local hospital by ambulance, the mob attacked the vehicle and broke it down, but the vehicle escaped.

Nazir Masih was in the hospital but mysteriously his health condition’s details have not been shared in regular. He was also under threats as First Information Report (FIR) was registered against him under blasphemy charges of 295 A, 295 B and Anti-terrorism Act as well.

Although an FIR was also registered against 16 known and 450 unknowns including the 40 women who were provoking men of violent mob, but the satisfactory results of charges on such violent mobs has not been seen before, HRFP added.

Naveed Walter president of Human Rights Focus Pakistan HRFP) demands for bring the perpetrators to justice who were the part of violent mob as well against their supporters behind who sent them to attack. Naveed Walter said the state agencies know well, which Islamic groups and individuals are targeting Christians and minorities and what are their motives. He said that even some recent reports have revealed that many FIRs of blasphemy charges against different Christians were registered by same men and groups, but no actions have been taken yet against them, HRFP added further. 

Naveed Walter said now the state should ensure the minorities protections and make sure the actions against all involved characters of such violations. He said if the state doesn’t take actions after knowing the real information, evidence about the actual consequences and reasons behind the falsely alleging for the blasphemy charges on Nazir and Sultan, then the results could come more dangerous in the future, HRFP added.

HRFP has raised that in many cases, why the same format has been seen like in Sargodha, Sialkot and at other places as well, where the people got scattered or burnt Quranic pages in front of any Christian home or business and they were attacked. Same as, few people suddenly go on site, start calling and after provoking people they accused of blasphemy to them, HRFP added. In such incidents, defusing the alarming condition is not a matter but the matter is that why the conditions become alarming. HRFP urged to make it a test case and make the real reforms in policy & mechanisms to deal in such situations of prior, during and after the happenings, HRFP added. The repeating of blasphemy charges and mob attacks on Christians must be stopped now. The repeal of blasphemy laws, and protection and justice of blasphemy victims and families whether they are in prisons or not, including Nazir Masih’s son Sultan Masih & entire family as well, HRFP urged.