Nearly two years ago, a violent mob in Pakistan’s Sargodha killed 73-year-old Pakistani Christian Nazir (Lazar) Masih over blasphemy allegations. The family is still waiting for justice and compensation for the destruction of their property, which they had to abandon after the incident. Sultan Gill, Masih’s son, mentioned that the family’s property, including their shoe factory, was attacked and set on fire by a mob of nearly 2,000 people following allegations of Quran desecration.
While the nation celebrated Eid al-Adha, Sultan Gill was preparing for his father’s death anniversary. Masih succumbed to injuries after being attacked by the mob with stones, bricks, and sticks. The family members were evacuated by the police, but Masih could not escape the violence. His death led to significant protests by Christian groups in Pakistan, denouncing the brutal attack.
Sultan Gill expressed the family’s ongoing struggles, stating that their wounds were still fresh, and the trauma indescribable. Despite assurances from the police regarding compensation for the damages, the family has not received the promised amount. The family had to relocate to a new city, where two of Gill’s children had to discontinue their education to support the family financially.
Police in Sargodha had filed cases against around 450 unidentified suspects under anti-terrorism laws, leading to the arrest of 25 individuals involved in the attack on Masih. However, all the accused were released within weeks, raising concerns about the effectiveness of the legal process in addressing such heinous crimes. Additionally, a church leader accused the Pakistani police of failing to comply with the Supreme Court’s orders to arrest all suspects involved in attacks on churches and Christian homes in the Jaranwala area of Punjab province.
