Punjab🇵🇰– A troubling series of violent attacks and sustained harassment targeting Christian communities in Punjab has intensified concerns among human rights advocates, religious leaders, and civil society organizations.
LEAD Ministries, an organization that documents violence against Christians in Pakistan, has brought renewed attention to these incidents, warning that they reflect a broader pattern of discrimination and insecurity faced by the country’s minority Christian population.
Christian Shopkeeper Killed in Kasur’s Raja Jang
In Raja Jang, a town in Kasur District, 32-year-old Haroon Masih, a Christian shopkeeper, was allegedly murdered after asking for repayment of goods sold on credit.
According to local sources, Haroon was attacked and critically injured. His brother, Sohail Masih, was also wounded during the incident. Haroon was rushed to a nearby hospital but succumbed to his injuries. He had been married for only ten months, leaving behind a young widow.
Church leaders, including Pastor Imran Amanat and Sardar Mushtaq Gill of LEAD Ministries, condemned the killing and called on law enforcement authorities to ensure a prompt and transparent investigation. They described the attack as part of a disturbing trend of violence against Christians in the province.
Brick-Kiln Laborer Brothers Attacked in Lahore’s Manga Mandi
In Manga Mandi, located in Lahore, two Christian brothers employed at a brick kiln were seriously injured in a knife attack while returning home from work.
Chand Masih and Robin Masih, sons of Rehmat Masih, are bonded laborers- a group already considered socially and economically vulnerable. Chand Masih suffered critical abdominal injuries and remains hospitalized.
Their father filed a First Information Report (FIR No. 214/26) at the local police station under attempted murder charges. He stated that his sons had endured repeated harassment and religiously derogatory remarks prior to the attack.
LEAD Ministries strongly condemned the assault, emphasizing that bonded laborers from minority communities often face compounded risks of exploitation, intimidation, and violence.
Alleged Systematic Harassment in Nankana Sahib
In Gillan Wala Chak-114, Tehsil Sangla Hill, within Nankana Sahib District, several Christian families have reported ongoing harassment and threats by a local landowner, Muhammad Javed Alam Mahli.
Residents allege that Mahli has filed false complaints—including theft allegations- against members of Christian families and pressured them into unpaid agricultural labor. Community members claim he has threatened that Christians would be forced to work on his land indefinitely and has used local police mechanisms to intimidate them.
LEAD Ministries states that it continues to document such cases and has urged authorities to conduct impartial investigations and ensure the safety of affected families.
Calls for Justice and Minority Protection
Advocacy groups argue that these incidents are not isolated. They point to a wider pattern of religious discrimination in Punjab, including harassment, mob intimidation, forced labor practices, and alleged misuse of legal processes against minority communities.
Human rights defenders and church leaders are calling on Pakistani authorities to:
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Conduct thorough and impartial investigations into reported attacks
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Prosecute perpetrators in accordance with the law
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Strengthen protection mechanisms for vulnerable minority communities
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Address bonded labor practices that heighten risk for marginalized groups
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Promote interfaith harmony and community-level dialogue
LEAD Ministries warns that without stronger enforcement of existing laws and meaningful safeguards for minorities, cycles of violence and discrimination will persist—undermining human rights, rule of law, and social cohesion in Pakistan.
