Police in Pakistan’s Punjab province have arrested five suspects following a mob attack on a Christian man’s clinic after allegations that he shared blasphemous content online. The incident forced Christian families in the village to flee their homes amid fears of further violence.
Kamran Gill Masih, a traditional medicine practitioner from Gharyal Kalan village in Sheikhupura district, was accused of sharing blasphemous material on social media. On 9 October, a mob reportedly set fire to his small dispensary, which was attached to his home.
Videos circulating on social media appeared to show men carrying sticks, shouting abuse and chanting slogans, including calls to behead the man accused of blasphemy.
Assistant Sub-Inspector Muhammad Akhtar Tabassum of Narang police station said officers responded by taking Masih into custody and moving his family to safety. Local sources told UCA News that fear spread among the village’s Christian residents, prompting around a dozen Christian families to leave their homes.
By 10 October, Tabassum said the situation was under control and Christian families had returned safely.
Police registered separate cases against Masih and those suspected of attacking his property. The suspects are being investigated under Pakistan’s penal code and anti-terrorism legislation, according to police. Five people have been detained, while officers continue to search for others allegedly involved.
Tabassum said investigators were using video footage to identify suspects but faced difficulties because members of the public were not cooperating. Police raids were being conducted at several locations, he added.
A village peace committee held an interfaith meeting at the local Presbyterian church after Sunday worship on 11 October. Assistant Sub-Inspector Ghulam Murtaza, who attended the gathering, said he believed misinformation spread by some YouTubers had exaggerated the incident. He described those responsible for the arson as troublemakers and said villagers were willing to provide a written guarantee of the Christian community’s safety.
Human Rights Focus Pakistan, a Lahore-based rights organisation, called on authorities on 11 October to investigate the allegation against Masih while protecting him, his family and other Christians in the village.
The organisation’s president, Naveed Walter, stressed that an accusation does not prove guilt and that every suspect is entitled to legal representation, due process and a fair trial. He said allegations could never justify mob violence, arson, intimidation or collective punishment.
Pastor Amjad Niamat, chairman of the Presbyterian Church of Pakistan’s Ecumenism and Interfaith Harmony Commission, said that although blasphemy cases often involve Muslim suspects, Christian communities can also become targets of attacks following such accusations. He called for peaceful coexistence and warned that false allegations could damage Pakistan’s reputation internationally.
Blasphemy remains a highly sensitive issue in Pakistan, where accusations have previously triggered attacks on Christian communities, particularly in Punjab. Depending on the offence, the country’s laws provide for penalties ranging from fines to life imprisonment or the death penalty.
A Reuters report published on 6 August, citing the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, said the number of registered blasphemy cases had fallen to 13 so far in 2026, around two-thirds lower than during comparable periods in recent years. However, the latest attack has renewed concerns about the risks faced by people accused of blasphemy and the vulnerability of religious minorities to mob violence.
Based on reporting by UCA News.
