Islamabad: More than 35 Christian families have fled a village in Pakistan’s Punjab province after a mob allegedly set fire to a Christian man’s home and medical shop following accusations of blasphemy. Police have arrested more than 15 protesters, while investigations into the incident are continuing.
The violence took place on Friday, 9 October, in Gharyal Kalan village in Sheikhupura district, raising fresh concerns over the safety of religious minorities in Pakistan.
According to Christian Daily International–Morning Star News, 40-year-old Kamran Masih, who runs a small medical shop in the village and has three children, was accused by local Muslim residents of sharing a video allegedly containing blasphemous material in WhatsApp groups. Police took him into custody at around 9.30 pm on Thursday, 8 October.
News of his arrest reportedly triggered fear among his family and other Christian residents, who worried that they could become targets of mob violence. More than 35 Christian families subsequently left the village amid concerns over their safety.
On Friday, dozens of people gathered outside Masih’s shop and the adjoining house. Some members of the crowd allegedly set both buildings on fire. Police intervened before the violence could spread further, preventing damage to the properties of other Christian families.
An official from the office of the Sheikhupura district police chief said a substantial police force had been deployed in the village to safeguard Christian residents and their homes. The investigation remains under way.
Ejaz Alam Augustine, a Christian member of the Punjab Assembly, said he and other Christian legislators had maintained contact with the police and district administration throughout the day to ensure the protection of affected families.
Augustine said the police had helped prevent the situation from escalating by taking Masih into custody promptly. He confirmed that more than 15 protesters had been arrested in connection with the arson. Officials had assured the legislators that the case would be investigated fairly.
A relative of Masih described the incident as highly unusual for the village, where Christians and Muslims had reportedly coexisted peacefully for years and maintained cordial relations.
The relative said Masih was well regarded in the community and expressed surprise at the allegations against him.
It remains unclear which provisions of Pakistan’s blasphemy laws have been invoked against Masih. The laws have long attracted criticism from human rights organisations and legal experts, who warn that they can be exploited to settle personal disputes and disproportionately affect religious minorities.
Blasphemy accusations in Pakistan have repeatedly been associated with mob attacks, extrajudicial killings and prolonged detention of suspects, according to the report.
Similar incidents raise further concerns
The report also highlighted an incident in Karachi, Sindh province, on 9 July, when tensions reportedly erupted after a Muslim shopkeeper received a letter containing a page allegedly torn from the Quran. The envelope also contained photographs of a Christian man and his mother.
Human rights activist Asif Bastian said hundreds of people gathered after the incident became known and staged protests in the street where the Christian man, Azeem Javed, lived. Around 10 to 15 Christian families in the area were reportedly trapped inside their homes.
When police arrived, protesters allegedly pelted police vehicles with stones. Additional police personnel and paramilitary Rangers were subsequently deployed to restore order.
The report also referred to another incident in July in Jhulun village in Punjab province, highlighting continuing concerns over the risks faced by people accused of blasphemy and the vulnerability of religious minorities to mob violence.
