Gujranwala, Punjab, Pakistan: In the narrow lanes of Pakistan’s brick kiln communities, where dust mingles with despair, the silent cries of Christian families rise above the clatter of daily labor — cries for justice, dignity, and the simple right to live without fear. 

For Aslam Masih, a humble Christian laborer, life has become an unending night. His wife — the mother of their four young children — was abducted by a man named Muhammad Waris, vanishing without a trace. Each morning, Aslam wakes to the haunting question of his children: “When will Mother come home?” — a question he cannot answer. 

Aslam’s story is far from unique. In Nushehra Virka, District Gujranwala, another Christian laborer, Paulas Rassol, lost his wife — also a mother of four — to Pervaiz Ahmed, who allegedly abducted her for forced marriage and conversion. Similarly, Dilawar Masih, a father of six, mourns the loss of his wife,reportedly taken by Muhammad Aqib under comparable circumstances. 

“These are not isolated incidents,” said Sardar Mushtaq Gill, founder of LEAD Ministries, a Christian legal aid and advocacy organization. “We, as leaders, teachers, and preachers within our community, must seriously reflect on why Christian married women are being targeted — abducted, converted, and forced into marriages. We must examine the weaknesses in our society, both spiritually and practically, that allow such injustices to continue.” 

LEAD Ministries has pledged solidarity with these families, vowing to raise their voices in pursuit of justice. “Every life matters before God — regardless of religion or class,” Gill emphasized. “We call on all people of conscience to pray for these families, to share their stories, and to stand with us in demanding justice, protection, and freedom for Pakistan’s bonded Christian laborers.” 

The plight of these families is emblematic of a larger pattern of persecution faced by Pakistan’s Christian minority. Many live and work under harsh conditions in brick kilns, trapped in cycles of bonded labor, poverty, and social discrimination. Reports of abductions, forced conversions, and sexual violence against Christian and Hindu women have surfaced repeatedly, often with little legal recourse for victims. 

In a country where religious identity too often determines access to justice, these communities remain among the most vulnerable. The law offers little refuge to the poor, and social pressure often silences their cries before they reach the courts. 

As Pakistan continues to grapple with questions of religious freedom and human rights, the stories of Aslam, Paulas, and Dilawar echo through the nation’s conscience — a reminder that behind every headline are families still waiting for their loved ones to come home. 

For now, their tears fall quietly in the dust — but their cry for justice continues to grow louder.