Pakistani Christian man, who was subjected to assault over suspected blasphemy, has been died due to the injuries after the incident.
The disturbing incident occurred when an angry crowd, including children, stormed man’s home, damaged his residence, and set a factory within the house ablaze.
Nazir Masih was severely injured during the violence on May 25 and was hospitalized in Rawalpindi. Despite undergoing two surgeries, he passed away and was buried in Sargodha under tight security.
Clips from Sargodha showed Christians carrying Masih’s funeral through the streets, chanting religious slogans. The casket was draped in black cloth.
Police filed cases against 500 people for attacking Masih’s home. The mob became violent after locals claimed to have seen burnt pages of the Quran outside the house and accused Masih’s son of the act.
This incident evoked memories of a severe attack on Pakistani Christians in 2023, where thousands of people burned churches and Christian homes in Jaranwala, also in Punjab, following claims of Quran desecration.
Blasphemy accusations are frequent in Pakistan, where blasphemy laws prescribe the death penalty for anyone found guilty of insulting Islam or Islamic figures. Although no one has been executed under these laws, accusations often lead to riots, mob violence, lynchings, and killings.
