Christian Worker Brutally Attacked in Sheikhupura Over False Blasphemy Allegation

1. Christian Worker Brutally Attacked in Sheikhupura Over False Blasphemy Allegation Farrukh Saif March 24, 2025 A 22-year-old Christian worker, Waqas Masih, was critically injured in a attack at a paper mill in Sheikhupura. The assault reportedly followed false accusations of blasphemy and ongoing pressure to convert to Islam.

2. Waqas, is a resident of Sheikhupura, and had been working as a contractor at Subhan Allah Paper Mills in Chak No. 16, Sharaqpur. According to his sources, Waqas was the only Christian employee at the mill and had been continuously harassed by his Muslim colleagues to convert to Islam. The incident took place on the afternoon of Friday, March 21, when his father Riyasat Masih visited his son at the factory. While they were speaking in a private room, Zohaib Iftikhar, a shift in-charge at the mill, allegedly summoned Waqas under a pretext. According to eyewitnesses, Zohaib questioned Waqas about his faith and asked if he had embraced Islam. When Waqas steadily refused, Zohaib reportedly pulled out a sharp cutting blade and attacked him, slashing his throat and targeting the jugular vein. According to his father and other coworkers, Waqas collapsed due to the deep injures in the neck. Whereas the Culprit Zohaib fled from the factory. When Zohaib understand the gravity of the situation he accused Waqas of tearing the pages of the Islamic textbook. The charge of Blasphemy against Islam and its Prophet is hold the serious penalties under Pakistan law. After the attack, Waqas was rushed to Mayo Hospital in Lahore, where he remains in critical condition. Initially unable to speak due to his injuries, he later regained partial consciousness and wrote a statement describing the incident. In his note, Waqas alleged that Zohaib had deliberately tried to frame him for blasphemy and initially approached him in a friendly manner before launching the brutal assault. The factory management has filed a First Information Report (FIR) at the Sharaqpur Police Station, and Zohaib Iftikhar has been taken into police custody. Authorities have confirmed that an investigation is currently underway.

3. Misuse of Blasphemy laws in Pakistan: The misuse of blasphemy laws in Pakistan has become a serious human rights concern, often weaponized to target religious minorities and settle personal scores. Introduced to protect religious sentiments, these laws—particularly Sections 295 and 298 of the Pakistan Penal Code—carry severe punishments, including the death penalty. However, vague definitions and lack of safeguards have made them prone to abuse. False accusations are frequently used to persecute Christians, Hindus, Ahmadis, and even Muslims over petty disputes, land grabs, or personal grudges. Once accused, the victims face mob violence,

4. lengthy imprisonments, and even extrajudicial killings, often without credible evidence. Despite growing national and international calls for reform, the fear of backlash has kept successive governments from amending these controversial laws. Original source:https://ecspe.org/christian-worker-brutally-attacked-in-sheikhupura-over-f alse-blasphemy-allegation/