A poor Christian family in Mian Channu (District Khanewal, Punjab) was brutally attacked and tortured by three Muslim men in a religiously motivated assault, once again exposing the deep-rooted intolerance faced by Christians in Pakistan’s rural communities.
The victims, led by Anwar Masih, a daily-wage labourer known for serving local families for more than four decades, were targeted despite their long record of peaceful coexistence. His late father, Fazal Masih, also worked in the same village for over seventy years and was admired for his honesty and dedication.
In this village of more than 200 Muslim families, only three households are Christian. They live in isolation and often face social and religious discrimination.
The incident began when Salma Anwar, Anwar’s daughter, who occasionally posts short videos on TikTok, was harassed by three local men — Salman Arshad, Tayyab, and Hafiz Zain. Despite repeated pleas from the family to stop, the harassment continued on a daily basis.
On October 12, 2025, the men again appeared near the Masih family’s home. When Anwar Masih confronted them, a heated argument broke out, and neighbours intervened to end the dispute. Later that evening, Chand Masih, Anwar’s nephew, was ambushed by the same men while returning home after playing basketball. They stopped him at gunpoint, beat him severely, and fractured his left arm with the handle of a weapon before fleeing the scene.
The next morning, while Anwar was returning home after helping prepare food for a funeral, the same men intercepted him and forcibly took him to their private compound (dera). There, they brutally tortured him with sticks and iron rods, causing two fractured ribs and serious internal injuries. When his family found him lying unconscious, the attackers reportedly threatened to burn him alive and hurled abusive anti-Christian remarks.
Anwar was taken to the Government Hospital, but according to witnesses, the perpetrators bribed the Medical Officer to falsify the report and downplay the severity of his injuries. As a result, local police initially refused to register a First Information Report (FIR), further compounding the family’s suffering and exposing systemic discrimination within law enforcement.
Our partners in Pakistan responded promptly, providing immediate legal assistance. A local lawyer was appointed, who helped the family register an FIR against all three attackers. Salman Arshad, the main accused, has been arrested, while the other two suspects — Tayyab and Hafiz Zain — remain at large. Police efforts to apprehend them are continuing.
Both victims, Anwar Masih and Chand Masih, remain under medical care. Our partner organisation continues to monitor the case closely, offering ongoing legal aid and humanitarian support to the family.
This violent attack reflects a broader pattern of hostility against Pakistan’s Christian minority. It also highlights the systemic bias and corruption that often prevent victims of faith-based violence from receiving justice.
