The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), the country's apex human rights body, has released a fact-finding report that sheds light on the disturbing events in Mujahid Colony, Sargodha on 25th May 2024. According to the report, the mob attack on Christian families on was a calculated assault, manipulated through religious fervor to settle a score.

The incident unfolded when Nazir Masih, a Christian man, and his son Sultan Masih were accused of deliberately burning pages of the Holy Quran. An announcement from a local mosque further fueled tensions, leading to a mob of about 2,000 people demanding death for Nazir and Sultan Masih. Armed with rocks, sticks, and petrol bombs, the mob created chaos, prompting the police to intervene. Teargas was used to evacuate nine family members, including women and children, from the scene. Tragically, Nazir Masih succumbed to his injuries on June 3, 2024.

The HRCP’s fact-finding mission revealed that approximately 150–200 Christian families lived in Mujahid Colony, Sargodha alongside roughly 2,000 Muslim families. The incident not only resulted in severe injuries to Nazir Masih but also led to the destruction of his family’s shoe workshop. Concerns about safety persist among the Christian community members, who hesitate to return to the area.

The report underscores the need for addressing deep-seated religious and personal tensions within communities and calls for measures to prevent such targeted attacks in the future. The incident also highlights the role of inflammatory announcements and certain political motivations behind such violence.

The HRCP calls for:

• Immediate and strict legal action against all involved in the violence.
• Transparency from the police and government on the investigation's progress.
• Measures to counter hate speech and misuse of blasphemy laws.
• Strengthening interfaith initiatives to promote harmony and prevent future incidents.

For more details, you can read the full HRCP report here.

Related: Christian Labourer tortured, his property Burnt in Pakistan Over Blasphemy Allegations