News Desk
Lahore, Sept. 7 – A Catholic man was shot dead and another injured on Sunday when armed assailants opened fire on a group of Christian pilgrims traveling to a shrine in Punjab Province.
The victims, identified as Afzal Masih of Samnabad, Lahore, and his cousin Harris Tariq Masih, were among 12–13 pilgrims, including women and children, on their way to the annual Feast of the Nativity of Mary at the Mariamabad shrine in Sheikhupura District.
According to eyewitnesses, the incident began when three men on motorcycles harassed female passengers in the group’s van on Sheikhupura Highway around 1:30 a.m. Afzal Masih reportedly confronted the assailants, who stopped the vehicle, dragged him out, and assaulted him. Witnesses said the attackers used derogatory slurs against Christians before leaving the scene.
Later, when the group stopped at a gas station, the same men returned with firearms. One of the assailants, identified as Muhammad Waqas of Farooqabad, allegedly opened fire with a Kalashnikov, killing 44-year-old Afzal Masih instantly and injuring Harris Masih in the arm.
Police in Farooqabad registered a case against Waqas and two unidentified accomplices. However, no arrests have been made so far. Legal experts and Christian rights advocates have criticized the authorities for failing to apply relevant anti-terrorism provisions despite the use of automatic weapons in the attack.
“This incident reflects the vulnerability of religious minorities in Pakistan, where perpetrators of violence often act with impunity,” said Kashif Nemat, a Christian lawyer assisting the victim’s family. He added that systemic discrimination hampers access to justice for Christians.
Afzal Masih, a rickshaw driver, is survived by his wife and four sons. His family described him as the primary breadwinner, and his eldest son, Bilal, appealed for government support in seeking justice.