(ZENIT News / Sargodha, Pakistan, 05.27.2024).- In a shocking incident on the morning of Saturday, May 25, Nazir Gill Masih, the owner of a shoe factory in Gillwala colony, Sargodha, Punjab, was brutally attacked by Islamic extremists. Masih was accused of committing blasphemy by allegedly burning pages of the Quran.
A frenzied mob descended on Masih’s family, looting and setting fire to their factory and home. While ten family members managed to escape unharmed, Nazir Gill Masih suffered severe injuries from the assault before police intervened and transported him to a hospital for urgent medical treatment.
Naeem Yousaf Gill, the executive director of the National Commission for Justice and Peace (NCJP), told Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) that the attacks were likely fueled by commercial rivalries and personal disputes rather than genuine religious outrage.
Archbishop Joseph Arshad of Islamabad-Rawalpindi, upon hearing of the incident, immediately visited Sargodha to assess the situation. «I was shocked. This incident is inhumane,» he stated. «I went to Sargodha immediately because it is within my diocese. I wanted to speak with officials to ensure a fair investigation. No one is allowed to take the law into their own hands, but this is happening in Pakistan.» He urged the authorities to implement policies that would prevent such incidents from recurring.
Multiple sources confirmed to ACN that Nazir Gill Masih is currently in the intensive care unit in critical condition. «Another individual who attempted to rescue Nazir was also beaten by the mob,» reported Naeem Yousaf Gill. «The rest of the family did not sustain injuries and is now under police protection.»
In Pakistan, blasphemy is a capital offense punishable by death or life imprisonment. However, it is often misused to settle personal scores, leading to false accusations and resulting in mob violence.
Professor Shadid Mobeen, a contributor to ACN’s Report on Religious Freedom and a relative of the victim, confirmed the attack and Nazir Masih’s dire condition. «The role of the international community and media is crucial in pressuring Pakistan to protect its religious minorities from extremist mindsets,» he asserted.
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