Pakistan: In a deeply disheartening development, the Chunian District Court has acquitted all primary accused in the brutal murder of Saleem Masih. The judge granted the benefit of the doubt to the accused, citing insufficient evidence to secure a conviction.

The British Asian Christian Association (BACA) has expressed profound disappointment at this verdict and has promptly filed a petition at the Lahore High Court, challenging the judgment. BACA remains committed to seeking justice for Saleem Masih and ensuring accountability for this heinous crime.

On 10th October, the Chunian District Court acquitted all accused in the murder of Saleem Masih, a 22-year-old Christian man who was brutally beaten and tortured for rinsing himself at a Muslim-owned tube well in his village.

Additional Sessions Judge Umer Bin Akber Qureshi pronounced the judgment, acquitting Sher Dogar, Iqbal, Altaf, Muhammad Mushtaq, Ali Shehzad, and Muhammad Razaq. The court extended the benefit of the doubt to the accused, despite compelling evidence that could have secured their conviction.

The judgment heavily relied on self-contradictory statements from doctors and inconsistencies in the police investigation record while outright dismissing the testimony of Ghafoor Masih, Saleem Masih’s grieving father.

This decision has sparked widespread disappointment and concern over the judicial system’s ability to deliver justice in cases involving minority victims. The British Asian Christian Association (BACA) has vowed to challenge this verdict and is preparing to file an appeal at the Lahore High Court.

The brutal murder of Saleem Masih, a 22-year-old Christian man, continues to highlight deep flaws in Pakistan’s judicial system. Saleem succumbed to injuries inflicted by Sher Dogar, Iqbal, Altaf, Muhammad Mushtaq, Ali Shehzad, Muhammad Razaq, and Jabbar after a violent assault on 25th February 2020.

The attack occurred when Saleem was rinsing himself at a Muslim-owned tube well in his village. The accused violently beat him, dragging his unconscious body to Sher Dogar’s farm after humiliating him at the tube well. Upon regaining partial consciousness, Saleem’s father, Ghafoor Masih, and the police were called to the scene. Ghafoor Masih arrived to find his son beaten, chained, and near death.

Police recovered chains, iron rods, and clubs used in the assault and rushed Saleem to Rural Health Centre, Allahabad, where Dr. Saud Iqbal provided initial treatment. Saleem was later referred to District Headquarters Hospital Kasur and then to General Hospital Lahore due to the severity of his injuries. Tragically, he could not recover and succumbed to his injuries.

Despite these harrowing facts, on 10th October, Additional Sessions Judge Umer Bin Akber Qureshi of the Chunian District Court acquitted all accused, citing insufficient evidence. The judgment relied on inconsistencies in police and medical records while disregarding the testimony of Saleem’s father, who witnessed the aftermath of the crime.

The British Asian Christian Association (BACA) has condemned the verdict and is preparing to challenge it in the Lahore High Court. This acquittal raises serious concerns about the justice system’s ability to protect minority communities and hold perpetrators accountable.

Saleem Masih, a 22-year-old Christian man, succumbed to his injuries on the night of 25th February 2020, after a brutal assault by Sher Dogar, Iqbal, Altaf, Muhammad Mushtaq, Ali Shehzad, Muhammad Razaq, and Jabbar. Despite his critical condition, Saleem briefly regained consciousness at General Hospital Lahore the following morning and recounted the horrific incident to his father, Ghafoor Masih, and uncle, Waris Masih. Tragically, he passed away at 11:00 PM that same night.

During the trial, key medical testimonies presented significant contradictions, raising concerns about the integrity of the judicial process.

Dr. Saud Iqbal from Rural Health Centre, Allahabad, who initially treated Saleem, denied referring him to District Headquarters Hospital Kasur, contradicting both the police records and Ghafoor Masih’s account. He stated that Saleem had only five minor injuries, a statement that matched police evidence and eyewitness testimonies.

Dr. Hafiz Adnan Shakir, who conducted Saleem’s postmortem on 29th February 2020, reported 12 injuries, though none were on vital organs. His report concluded that septicemia (blood poisoning) was the cause of death. However, in court, he contradicted his own findings by stating he was uncertain about the cause of death.

These inconsistencies played a pivotal role in the Chunian District Court’s decision to acquit the accused on 10th October 2024. The court extended the benefit of the doubt to the perpetrators, disregarding the weight of evidence and eyewitness testimonies from Saleem’s father and uncle.

The British Asian Christian Association (BACA) has expressed outrage at the verdict, emphasizing that these contradictions have obstructed justice for Saleem Masih. BACA is preparing to file an appeal at the Lahore High Court, demanding accountability and justice for the young victim and his grieving family.

In the ongoing pursuit of justice for Saleem Masih, additional contradictions have emerged that undermine the integrity of the trial. The investigation officer, Muhammad Bashir (now deceased), consulted the Registrar of the Emergency Ward at General Hospital Lahore, who allegedly claimed that Saleem Masih had been admitted with a history of a road accident. However, no record of such an accident was presented in court, and this statement was not corroborated by any evidence.

Despite this glaring inconsistency, Judge Umer Bin Akber Qureshi relied heavily on these self-contradictory accounts, including the claim that Saleem’s injuries increased from five to twelve by 27th February 2020. In his judgment, the judge wrote:

“…there was an event which happened after the day of occurrence, and before 27.02.2020, when he was brought to the Lahore General Hospital with the enhanced number of injuries i.e from 05 to 12…”

This inference, made without any supporting documentation or investigation into the alleged accident, further casts doubt on the fairness of the trial—particularly as no accident occurred during the patient’s transfer from Rural Health Centre (RHC) to District Headquarters Hospital Kasur (DHHK) in a police car and to the General Hospital Lahore in an ambulance.

Additionally, the police failed to record a statement from Saleem Masih regarding the assault, which could have provided crucial evidence. The judge also expressed doubt over the testimony of Ghafoor Masih, Saleem’s father, particularly regarding his account of rescuing his son from the illegal confinement of the accused.

These inconsistencies and failures to gather vital evidence led to the acquittal of the accused. The British Asian Christian Association (BACA) has expressed profound concern over the judgment and is determined to seek justice through an appeal at the Lahore High Court. The case has highlighted serious flaws in the judicial process, particularly when it comes to the treatment of minority victims, and BACA is committed to ensuring that these wrongs are righted.

In the aftermath of the Chunian District Court’s decision to acquit the accused in the brutal murder of his son, Saleem Masih, Ghafoor Masih was overcome with grief and despair. He broke down in tears, unable to comprehend how the judge could release the men who had so violently taken the life of his young son.

Ghafoor Masih shared his heartache with the British Asian Christian Association (BACA):

“The judge did not watch me crying, he did not hear my requests and acquitted the murderers of my young son.”

“I request you to take my case to the higher court. I trust in the Lord.”

“The culprits are shouting slogans of victory and saying ‘what have you done against us?'”

“I cannot sleep, and nothing consoles me after the judgment.”

Ghafoor Masih Signs Documents to File a Petition at Lahore High Court

In response to this miscarriage of justice, BACA has appointed Sardar Sultan Ali Dogar to fight for justice in the case of Saleem Masih’s murder. On 3rd November, Sardar Sultan Ali Dogar met with Ghafoor Masih and filed a petition at the Lahore High Court, challenging the impugned judgment.

Sardar Sultan Ali Dogar expressed his determination for a fair trial and justice for Saleem Masih, stating:

“I remain hopeful that justice will prevail in the murder of Saleem Masih. However, the court has ignored critical evidence, including the weapons used in the brutal assault on Saleem. Additionally, no credible record of the alleged road accident has been presented or substantiated in court. This oversight must not be allowed to undermine the pursuit of justice.”

BACA remains unwavering in its commitment to ensuring that the truth is heard and justice is served for Saleem Masih and his grieving family. The fight for justice continues, and BACA will explore every legal avenue to hold the perpetrators accountable. We have instructed Mr. Dogar to obtain the police reports, which should include details of the transfer from one hospital to another by police car, and to investigate why attendance records at District Headquarters Hospital Kasur are missing. Additionally, we are asking him to look into the possibility of further injuries to Saleem Masih while at  DHHK once records can be traced. These actions will complement his ongoing investigations.

The British Asian Christian Association has already contributed a £1,000 deposit to the solicitor handling this case and aims to raise an additional £1,000 to cover the remaining legal fees. The family will also need assistance with travel expenses to and from court, as well as other costs related to preparing the case, and we are working to raise a further £1,000 to support these needs. Furthermore, the family continues to face threats from the murderers and their associates, and we are exploring the possibility of relocating them to a safehouse once new court proceedings commence. Your support is crucial in helping us provide for this family and others in similar situations. Please consider donating (here) to help us continue our vital work.

Juliet Chowdhry, Trustee for the British Asian Christian Association (BACA), expressed her outrage at the court’s decision, stating:

“We are deeply angered by this unjust verdict, where the truth has been buried under layers of corruption and incompetence. The acquittal of those responsible for the brutal murder of Saleem Masih is a stark reminder of the systemic failures that allow the wealthy and powerful to evade justice in Pakistan. The contradictions in medical reports and police investigations are glaring, and it is clear that the judicial system is being manipulated to protect the perpetrators. This is not just a miscarriage of justice; it is a continuation of impunity that must be stopped. We cannot allow those who commit such heinous acts to walk free. I call on all Christians to pray for justice for Saleem and his grieving family, and to stand with them as they continue to fight for accountability. We will do everything within our powers to make sure those responsible for this crime are brought to justice.”