On 25 May 2024, a large mob gathered in Mujahid Colony in Sargodha and attacked the house of Nazir (Lazar) Masih and his son Sultan Masih, following allegations that they had deliberately burnt pages of the Holy Quran. An announcement to this effect was reportedly made from a local mosque, inciting a mob of about 2,000 people to gather outside the adjoining homes of Nazir and Sultan Masih, demanding they be put to death. Videos of the mob and their demand went viral on social media platforms soon after. The police were able to eventually evacuate nine members of the family. However, Nazir Masih was caught by the mob and severely beaten. He was taken to the hospital in critical condition and succumbed to his injuries a week later on the night between 2 and 3 June 2024.
On 28 May 2024, a fact-finding mission led by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) visited Sargodha. The mission comprised Maheen Pracha (staff member), Asad Jamal (lawyer and human rights activist) and Yaqoob Khan Bangash (academic and human rights activist). They met local religious, community and political leaders from the Christian community, senior police officers, members of the victim’s family, and various residents of Mujahid Colony. The mission’s terms of reference were to:
– Ascertain the facts of the case, including what triggered the mob, what allegations were made and against whom, the basis for these allegations, the mobilization of the mob, the extent of violence, and the response of law enforcement teams.
– Investigate the persecution of the Christian community and Christian-Muslim relations in the area before the incident.
– Assess the role of the civil administration and law enforcement agencies, with a special focus on steps taken to ensure the safety of religious minorities following simmering religious tension in Maryam Town, Sargodha, in September 2023.
– Probe persistent underlying religious and political tensions that may have instigated violence against the Christian community and steps taken by authorities to resolve these tensions.
– Evaluate the sense of insecurity among the Christian community and precautionary measures taken by them.
– Investigate claims of deviation from due process while lodging FIRs against Christian community members following this violent episode.
– Assess (a) the reasons for the Punjab government’s efforts to seemingly downplay the incident and (b) the efficacy of such a strategy.
