Pakistan Minorities Fearful As A Man’s Home and Factory Are Torched by A Mob in Sargodha Over False Desecration Rumours
Report from www.claas.org.uk
On May 25, 2024, a violent mob attacked a Christian factory owner named Lazar Masih and his family in the Mujahid Colony area of Sargodha, following rumours that he had burned pages of the Holy Quran. The incident began in the early morning when misinformation spread that Masih had desecrated the Quran while burning rubbish. This baseless accusation quickly incited a mob, which brutally assaulted Masih, dragged him into the street, and set his house and shoe factory on fire, destroying all raw materials and packaging.
Eyewitnesses described the mob as highly charged, with children actively participating in the destruction and women filming the incident on their phones. The attack was reportedly incited by Masih’s neighbour, Ayub Gondal, who harboured jealousy towards Masih’s business success. A few days prior, an altercation between the children of both families had further fuelled tensions. Gondal seized the opportunity to incite violence by falsely accusing Masih of burning the Quran when he saw the family burning old and useless papers.
As the mob gathered, it grew increasingly violent, attacking Masih’s property without attempting to verify the facts. The attackers torched Masih’s house and factory, reducing them to ashes. Tahir Naveed Choudhry, Ex-MPA Punjab and an advocate, confirmed that no Quran pages were burned, and the family was merely disposing of waste.
Police were called to the scene to control the situation.
District Police Officer (DPO) Dr. Asad led the response, using tear gas to disperse the mob and arresting dozens of individuals. The police are currently analysing CCTV footage to identify all involved perpetrators. Commissioner Sargodha Division, Muhammad Ajmal Bhatti, condemned the incident and assured a transparent investigation. He emphasized that those responsible for spreading false accusations and inciting violence would face legal consequences. Read More: https://www.pakchristiannews.com/details/687
