ECLJ Representing Family of Pakistani Christian Man Murdered for Political Views

The European Centre for Law and Justice (ECLJ) is representing the family of a Pakistani Christian man murdered because of his political views.  Two years ago, 35-year-old Javed Masih, a resident of Chak 10/4-L, Okara, Pakistan, was murdered in the presence of dozens of people for expressing his political views in a local election.

The incident took place in April 2008 after Arshad Masih, Javed’s uncle and a political activist, decided to support Rao Sikandar in the elections because of his development work in the Arshad’s village. Sikandar’s opponent, Abdul Sattar, forced Arshad Masih to support him, but Arshad remained adamant in his support of Sikandar. He also led other Christians to vote for Sikandar. When Sattar lost the elections, he held Arshad responsible and falsely accused him of illegally selling liquor. (False accusations against Christians for illegally selling liquor are frequent. Christians are allowed to purchase liquor for their personal use after they have obtained a permit; however, they cannot sell it.) Sattar took several policemen and nearly 100 other men to arrest Masih. When the group arrived in the village, they attacked the Christians. The assailants attacked Masih who was shot and killed as he was trying to assist his uncle Arshad who was injured.

Throughout the attack, observers said the police remained complacent spectators and never attempted to stop the assailants. Instead, they arrested the injured Arshad Masih and took him to the police station before taking him to the hospital.

Another family member of Javed Masih, who was murdered in the assault, filed a complaint with the police.  But, in 2009, the investigating officer declared that most of the 18 assailants accused in the deadly attack were innocent.  The family then submitted an application to the Deputy Inspector General (“DIG”) urging that another investigating office be appointed. The investigation was assigned to the DIG of the Khanewal city Crime Branch. In a recent meeting with the District Police Officer Bilal Qamiana, Javed’s relatives were told that an investigation would soon be completed by the DIG of the Sahiwal city Crime Branch.

Younus Iqbal, a Christian leader of the area, said that the Minister for Labor and Manpower, Muhammad Ashraf Khan Sohna, and a Member of the National Assembly, Sajjad-ul-Hassan, were supporting Sattar and his accomplices and told the Masih family that they had the support of the police authorities including the DIG.  The Masih family was also warned not to pursue the case against the assailants.

Masih leaves behind his wife, Zeenat Bibi, and four children: Binish (12), Waqas (10), Waqar (8), and Shahzaib (4). 

The ECLJ’s office in Pakistan is representing the family of Javed Masih.