Civil society organizations call on the Punjab government to ensure that the perpetrators of the lynching of the elderly Nazir Masih are brought to justice. The investigation of this brutality must be conducted transparently and independently of any external pressure.
The Punjab government must compensate and protect Masih’s family's safe return following the ransacking of their houses and the shoe warehouse. A concrete policy and strategy must be formed to control provocative announcements in mosques and the resultant mob violence.
The demands were made in a peaceful demonstration on June 8, 2024, that took place from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Chairing Cross, opposite the Punjab Assembly, the Mall, Lahore, and drew a large number of lawyers, religious leaders, scholars, parliamentarians, community leaders, youth leaders, students, and teachers.
They called for a speedy trial of the culprits in the Jaranwala and Sargodha tragedies and all other similar cases. They also raised slogans for the formation of a judicial inquiry committee to investigate from Shanti Nagar to Mujahid Colony Sargodha incidents of mob justice, leading to legislation to prevent the misuse of blasphemy laws.
Sajid Christopher, the Executive Director of HFO, emphasized, "Nazir Masih's death is a stark reminder of the ongoing persecution faced by religious minorities in Pakistan. It is imperative that we unite to demand justice and ensure such tragedies do not happen again."
"We stand together to honor Nazir Masih and call for justice and protection for all religious minorities," said Sharon Shamir, Coordinator of the Legal Department at HFO. "This peaceful protest is a step towards ensuring that such tragic incidents are not repeated and that every individual, regardless of their faith, can live without fear."
According to Peter Jocob, Chairperson, Peoples Commission for Minorities Rights (PCMR), a judicial inquiry commission should be formed under the Inquiry Commission Act of 1956 to investigate blasphemy cases.
Yasser Talib, Coordinator Communication, Minority Leadership Development Program (MLDP), recommended upgrading police Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to effectively deal with mob attackers. He urged the government to ban electronic and social media coverage of extremist religious organizations.
Samson Salamat, Chairman Rawadari Tehreek, also supported the ban on extremist religious outfits involved in the instigation of violence against religious minorities under the pretext of Blasphemy Laws. A new legislation should be enforced to criminalize false and fabricated Blasphemy allegations. An independent inquiry into all blasphemy incidents from Shanti Nagar to Mujahid Colony Sargodha should be carried out. The government should demonstrate its will to control mob violence by ensuring concrete policy and strategy measures. A speedy trial of the culprits of the Jaranwala and Sargodha tragedies and all other similar cases should be conducted,” he said.
Asher Sarfraz, Chief Executive Director, Christians True Spirit CTS, and Katherine Sapna, Director CTS, strongly condemned the lynching of Nazir Masih in Sargodha. "We believe that it is a heinous and cowardly act that has no place in any civilized society. Every individual has the right to life and security, regardless of their religion or belief. CTS demands a fair and speedy trial in the Nazir Lynching case,” he said.
Eiga Kenny, from the Center for Legal Aid Assistance and Settlement (CLAAS), also called for a fair and transparent investigation of the incident leading to the mob lynching of Nazir Gill. She urged the government to ensure compensation for the affected family for the loss of their property.
Naumana Suleman, Founding Chairperson of the Minority Women Forum, demanded justice for Nazir Masih and compensation for the loss of property to the family. “Immediate and comprehensive actions are needed to bring all the culprits to justice. The Christian community awaits legislation to prevent the misuse of blasphemy laws,” she said.
James Rehmat, Executive Director of ECHD, reminded authorities of the creation of a special police force to protect places of worship in compliance with the landmark judgment of the apex court in 2014. “Police officers need specialized training in riot control, crowd management, and de-escalation techniques. Special police teams should be formed that can be quickly deployed to areas where blasphemy allegations have been made to prevent escalation into mob violence,” he said. “Intelligence networks must be utilized to monitor potential flashpoints and social media for signs of incitement. The safety and legal rights of those accused of blasphemy, including secure detention and fair trials, must be ensured. It is the responsibility of the majority to protect the minority," he concluded.
The demonstration concluded with a candlelight vigil to pay tribute to Nazir Masih, whose sacrifice has become a powerful voice for the entire Christian community in Pakistan.