Press Release
CLAAS-UK – June 12, 2024
Tragic Death of Christian Teen in Lahore Factory Sparks Community Outcry and Demands for Accountability. FCDO Urged To Raise The Case With Pakistan Government.
In a heartbreaking incident, 18-year-old Waqas Masih, a Christian youth, was brutally killed by the Muslim owners of the factory where he worked. This tragic event has ignited widespread community outrage and demands for justice.
Salamat Masih, a a55-year-old father of Waqas, reported in his First Information Report (FIR) that his two sons were employed at a plastic bottle factory owned by Haji Saleem. On June 6th, around 3 PM, Salamat Masih’s younger son informed him that factory owner Haji Saleem, his son Omer Saleem, and other factory workers—Shahzad, Bilal, and Shani—had forcibly taken Waqas into the factory and beaten him severely, leaving him unconscious.
When Salamat Masih reached the factory with his 12-year-old son Awais and others, he found Waqas tied up and being beaten with plastic pipes by the factory owner and his associates. Despite Salamat Masih’s pleas, the factory owner claimed that Waqas was merely unconscious. By 3 PM, Waqas was declared dead.
The family took Waqas’s body to Mayo Hospital, Lahore for an autopsy and later buried him on June 7th. Salamat Masih and his wife Rubina, who live in dire conditions, are devastated by the loss of their son, who they insist was falsely accused of theft by the factory owner.
Awais, the 12-year-old brother of Waqas, recounted the harrowing experience. He described how the factory owner and workers beat Waqas from 10 AM, giving him electric shocks and breaking many of his bones. Despite Waqas’s desperate pleas to bring his mother, he was not allowed to leave. Waqas succumbed to his injuries around 3 PM.
The Masih family, has five children. Three are married and live separately, while Waqas, Awais, and their parents lived together in poverty. With Waqas gone, the family has lost a crucial source of income.
An FIR was registered at Islam Purra police station on June 6th under sections 302 and 34 TP. However, as of June 10th, no arrests had been made, and the autopsy report had not been issued to the family.
Nasir Saeed, Director of CLAAS-UK, expressed deep concern over the increasing violence and discrimination against Christians in Pakistan. He highlighted the ongoing false accusations of blasphemy against Christians, including recent cases involving two women. Saeed criticized the Pakistani government for failing to protect its Christian citizens, leaving them vulnerable to violence and injustice.
Saeed stated, “It is a very tenuous and grieving situation for Christians throughout Pakistan. False cases of blasphemy continue to be registered against Christians, and they are living under constant threat. The government must ensure impartial investigations and bring those responsible for these heinous acts to justice.”
He further added, “The Pakistani government must take immediate action to stop these atrocities and ensure the safety and security of Christians in Pakistan. This includes investigating high-level officials and holding them accountable for their complicity in these crimes.” Saeed also requested prayers for the end of the ongoing persecution of Christians and for their safety in Pakistan.
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For more information, contact Nasir Saeed: [email protected]
T: 02081506763 W: www.claas.org.uk
About CLAAS:
Centre for Legal Aid, Assistance and Settlement (CLAAS) is an interdenominational organization working for Christians who are being persecuted because of their faith in Pakistan. CLAAS works for religious freedom, to stop persecution of Christians in Pakistan because of blasphemy and other discriminatory laws, raise awareness, disseminate information and highlight the plight of Christians on an international level. CLAAS provides free legal aid to victims of religious intolerance in Pakistan, as well as shelter and financial support for the victims and their families.
