A 35-year-old Christian man died following an alleged assault by a former police officer and associates in a village in Pakistan’s Punjab province, sparking protests and calls for justice from the Christian community.

Kashif Masih, a laborer from Sialkot District, was killed on May 12, 2025, after being severely tortured by a group of men over a false accusation of stealing a mobile phone, underscoring ongoing concerns about violence against Christians in the country, the Christian Post reported.

Masih, a resident of Jamkay Cheema village, had worked for Malik Irfan, a former police inspector, for three years. On the evening of May 11, Irfan reportedly accused him of theft and summoned him to his outhouse. Masih was taken into Irfan’s custody that evening, but his family was given no information about his whereabouts.

In the early hours of May 12, two of Irfan’s relatives, Areeb Babar and Ijaz Ikramullah, entered the Masih household without warning. They searched the property and repeated the accusation, but said nothing about already holding Kashif. The family, unaware of the danger their loved one was facing, remained in the dark.

At around 5 a.m., neighbors informed Kashif’s brother, Riyasat Masih, that someone had been discarded onto the road nearby. When Riyasat rushed to the scene, he found his brother beaten and bleeding. Despite his injuries, Kashif was still breathing and was brought home.

Family and community shaken by alleged cruelty

Kashif later succumbed to his injuries at home. Before he died, he reportedly described to his brother how Irfan had ordered seven men, including Babar and Ikramullah, to beat him until he admitted to stealing the phone. Riyasat said the attackers used clubs and metal rods in the assault.

According to an autopsy, Kashif sustained bruises across his body and had steel nails hammered into his legs. Riyasat said he was horrified to see the extent of pain inflicted on his younger brother and questioned the motive behind the violence, suggesting that a different reason may lie behind the accusation.

“The level of torture my brother endured indicates this may not have been just about a phone,” Riyasat said. “If they suspected him, they could have taken him to the police or told us.”

Legal delays spark protest in Christian community

Initially, authorities were hesitant to file a criminal case, reportedly due to the influence of the suspect, a former law enforcement officer. It was only after members of the local Christian community staged a protest that police agreed to register a First Information Report, or FIR.

Following pressure, Malik Irfan was taken into custody. However, Babar and Ikramullah were able to secure pre-emptive bail on May 13, just one day after Kashif's death. The other suspects named by Kashif before his death remain unaccounted for.

The incident has devastated the Masih family. Kashif was one of nine siblings, and the family relied on his income to support their livelihood. Their elderly mother has been especially affected by the loss.

Pattern of violence against Christians in Pakistan

The wider Christian community in the region has come together to offer assistance to the grieving family. They have helped by raising funds and finding legal support. “We’re grateful that our people have stood by us during this time,” Riyasat said.

Violence and discrimination against Pakistani Christians, a minority in the country, have been reported in multiple incidents. On February 27, in another part of Punjab, a Christian named Wasif George was abducted and publicly humiliated over a theft allegation. His assailants shaved his head and forced him to ride through the village on a donkey.

In a separate case from June 2024, 18-year-old Waqas Salamat was fatally beaten by his employer and others when he chose to leave his industrial job. These events form part of a pattern that human rights groups say reflects systemic injustice.

Pakistan continues to rank poorly for religious freedom

Pakistan ranked eighth on the 2025 World Watch List published by Open Doors, a report that tracks countries where Christians face the highest levels of persecution. Advocates and religious leaders have called for stronger legal protections and accountability to prevent such incidents from recurring.

The Masih family’s case continues to gain attention, with public sympathy growing due to the brutality Kashif suffered and the apparent initial reluctance by law enforcement to intervene. Community members hope the attention will lead to real consequences for those responsible.

“He was black and blue when we found him,” Riyasat said. “It’s unimaginable what they did to him. We want justice for my brother—not just for our family, but for all the other Christians who are afraid to speak up.”