A 17-year-old Christian teenager has been seriously injured after he was allegedly attacked by a group of men in a predominantly Christian area of Sheikhupura, Pakistan.
Ikhlaq Masih, who works making pizzas at a restaurant, was reportedly assaulted in Nasrat Colony, a town in Ajnianwala where many Christians live. His father, Saleem, works at a brick kiln, while his mother, Zakriya, is a homemaker.
The family has limited financial means and is now facing medical costs alongside their normal household expenses following the attack.
According to local reports, the incident began on Sunday, 16 August, after Masih confronted a group of young men who were allegedly harassing local girls as families made their way to church.
Locals said Ali Shah, the son of an influential man in the area, and his friends regularly visited Nasrat Colony on Sundays, where they allegedly followed, mocked and harassed girls heading to church with their families.
Masih reportedly asked the group why they continued coming into the neighbourhood to trouble women. An argument followed, during which the men allegedly used religious slurs against him, including the term “chura”, a derogatory expression used against Christians in Pakistan.
The group then left the area but allegedly waited for Masih to leave the village later that day.
According to reports, Shah and the others returned when Masih was alone, carrying pistols, iron rods and motorcycle chains. They allegedly attacked him while shouting abuse and using further religious slurs.
Bystanders alerted Masih’s parents, who rushed to the scene and appealed to the attackers to stop. By the time they arrived, Masih was reportedly unconscious.
He was taken to hospital and later transferred to the District Headquarters Hospital because of the seriousness of his injuries. An official medical certificate reportedly documented severe injuries to several parts of his body.
A First Information Report (FIR) has been registered against those accused of carrying out the assault. However, Masih’s family is reportedly concerned that the suspects could secure bail because of their local influence.
The family has also alleged that Shah and those accompanying him have threatened to kill Masih if they continue with legal proceedings.
The attack has prompted concern within the local Christian community, which is calling for the authorities to ensure that those responsible are held accountable.
Community members are also praying for Masih’s recovery and warning that releasing the suspects could leave the teenager and his family at greater risk.
The case comes amid wider concerns about the safety of Christians in Pakistan, particularly where religious hostility and local power structures intersect. For Masih’s family, the immediate concern remains his recovery and ensuring that the legal process can proceed without further threats to his life.
Based on reporting by International Christian Concern.
