Sheikhupura, Punjab — A Christian brick kiln labourer was brutally tortured, humiliated, and killed in Sheikhupura earlier this month, in a shocking reminder of the impunity surrounding crimes against religious minorities in Pakistan. Despite the registration of a First Information Report (FIR), the victim’s family alleges that police have failed to arrest the accused or share critical evidence, fuelling suspicions of a cover-up.
The victim, identified as 35-year-old Arif Masih, was attacked on 10 September in Bridge Atari, Noorwala Road, allegedly by a local landlord and his associates. According to relatives, Masih was beaten after refusing to carry out forced labour. Witnesses say he was dragged into a private residence, stripped of his dignity, and subjected to extreme violence before his unconscious body was dumped in nearby fields, where he succumbed to his injuries.
Family members describe the killing as an act of deliberate degradation. Masih’s moustache, eyebrows, and hair were shaved off — a symbolic attempt to disgrace him before death. “My brother was beaten so badly that he lost consciousness,” his brother Haroon Yousaf told reporters. “They disfigured him by cutting his moustache, his eyebrows, and his hair. Then they dumped him like garbage in the fields. We are poor brick kiln workers; we have no power, no money. The police are not helping us. Instead, they are protecting the killers.”
The family says they even provided video evidence of the beating but were denied a copy of the FIR and the postmortem report. Five days after the killing, no suspect had been arrested. “We feel abandoned, as if our lives have no value because we are Christians and poor,” the relatives said in a joint statement.
Police negligence has compounded the family’s grief. Officers at Noor Shah Police Post allegedly delayed registering the complaint until pressure mounted. SHO Arif Bajwa reportedly promised action within four days, but the deadline passed without progress. Instead, the family claims they were sent from one officer to another while the influential suspects remained untouched.
The case highlights both economic vulnerability and religious discrimination. Like many Christian families in Sheikhupura, Masih’s relatives worked as bonded labourers in the brick kiln industry, making them especially vulnerable to exploitation. Rights observers note that minorities often face slow or compromised investigations when the accused enjoy local influence.
Legal experts point out that the murder constitutes violations of Pakistan’s Constitution, which guarantees equality before the law (Article 25) and the right to life (Article 9), as well as multiple provisions of the Pakistan Penal Code. Internationally, Pakistan is bound by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and other treaties to protect citizens from discrimination and violence.
The family is appealing to the government, judiciary, and human rights bodies to ensure an impartial investigation, immediate arrests, and protection for the victim’s dependents. They also demand accountability for police officers accused of shielding the perpetrators.
“The murder of Arif Masih is more than a local crime — it is a test case for justice,” said Irfan Peter, Advocacy & Programme Manager at The Edge Foundation. “Unless urgent action is taken, this case risks becoming another example of impunity that leaves Pakistan’s minorities exposed to further violence.”
