Christian Youth Killed In Pakistan After Alleged Threats, Family Demands Justice

by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Chief International Correspondent

MURIDKE, PAKISTAN (Worthy News) – Christians in northeastern Pakistan expressed grief Sunday over the killing of a young Christian man by armed Muslims who also allegedly threatened women, sources told Worthy News.

Premi Masih, 22, was shot and killed in the Muridke area of Pakistan’s Punjab province, sparking outrage among Pakistan’s Christian community, according to advocacy group LEAD Ministries.

In comments shared with Worthy News, family members alleged that the fatal shooting followed weeks of threats, intimidation, religious abuse, and a dispute involving alleged bonded labor.

According to relatives, one of Masih’s brothers had been working for a local Muslim landlord under conditions the family described as bonded labor. They claimed he was required to work excessively long hours while receiving little compensation beyond food and basic necessities.

When he reportedly refused to continue working under those conditions, the landlord allegedly demanded 170,000 Pakistani rupees (about $600) from the family.

ALLEGED HARASSMENT

Family members said that after they were unable to meet the demand, a group of local Muslim men began pressuring and threatening them. The men repeatedly came to their home, fired shots at the house, and attempted to intimidate the family into compliance, relatives told Worthy News.

The family also said Christian women in the household were subjected to severe intimidation and religiously motivated abuse.
Relatives recalled that the men threatened to drag the women naked through the streets and repeatedly used the derogatory term “Chura,” a pejorative slur historically directed at Christians in Pakistan.

The threats created an atmosphere of fear and humiliation, leaving the women terrified for their safety and well-being, family members added.

Relatives said they reported the threats and harassment to local police and sought protection.

However, they stressed that “no meaningful action” was taken over the weekend despite the seriousness of the complaints.

FATAL SHOOTING

The situation culminated in a deadly shooting when the armed group returned and opened fire, the family said.

Premi Masih was struck by gunfire and critically injured, according to Christian sources. He was rushed to Meo Hospital in Lahore, the capital of Pakistan’s Punjab province, for emergency treatment but died several hours later, relatives said.

The family has appealed to the Punjab government, law enforcement authorities, and human rights organizations to ensure a transparent investigation and bring those responsible to justice. They are also seeking protection for surviving relatives, who say they continue to fear for their safety.

Pastor Imran Amanat, leader of LEAD Ministries, voiced sorrow over Masih’s death and questioned the effectiveness of law enforcement in protecting vulnerable communities.

“After hearing the details of this tragic incident, it appears that ordinary citizens, especially members of minority communities, continue to face serious challenges in obtaining protection and justice,” he told Worthy News in a statement. “We urge the authorities to conduct a thorough and impartial investigation and hold all those responsible accountable under the law.”

CHRISTIAN CONCERNS

The killing has renewed concerns among Christian leaders and rights advocates about the treatment of religious minorities in Pakistan, an Islamic nation of more than 240 million people where Christians make up roughly 2 percent of the population.

Christian organizations have long argued that believers face discrimination, social marginalization, economic exploitation, and threats to their security, often with limited access to legal protection.

Pakistan is among the world’s most challenging countries for Christians, according to researchers. Advocacy group Open Doors ranks Pakistan eighth on its World Watch List of countries where it says Christians face the most severe persecution, citing blasphemy laws, forced conversions and forced marriages of Christian girls, societal discrimination, and violence against religious minorities.

Human rights advocates have called on authorities to ensure that the circumstances surrounding Masih’s death are fully investigated and that justice is served without fear or favoritism.

Authorities had not publicly commented on the family’s account of the events. Investigators are expected to determine the facts surrounding the shooting and the reported intimidation, discrimination, and violence that preceded it.

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