News Desk
Lahore, Pakistan:
On December 25, 2024, Pastor Shahzad Saddique Masih, a prominent Christian leader, reported a violent attack on his home in Lahore. The incident, which occurred on Christmas Day, left three church members severely injured.
According to Pastor Saddique, the attack began with aerial firing by unidentified individuals. Police were called to the scene to investigate, but a second, more direct assault followed while they were present.
“Bullets were fired directly at my house, even in the presence of the police,” Pastor Saddique said.
“Three members of my church were hit and sustained severe bullet injuries.” , he shared.
“I urge the authorities to investigate this matter thoroughly and ensure justice for our Church’s victims and also the protection for my church.”, he maintained
In recent years, violence against Christians has escalated. In March 2015, suicide bombings at two churches in Lahore claimed at least 15 lives and left dozens injured. More recently, in August 2023, a mob attacked Christian neighborhoods in Jaranwala, Punjab, torching homes and churches.
Local authorities have launched an investigation into the attack on Pastor Saddique’s home and pledged to bring the perpetrators to justice. However, many remain skeptical about the effectiveness of these efforts.
The Christian community continues to call for urgent action, fearing that such violence could escalate if left unchecked.
Joseph Jansen, a Human Rights Advocate, has also strongly condemned the violent attack on members of the Christian community in Lahore during Christmas celebrations. Janssen described the incident as “deeply troubling and unacceptable,” attributing it to religious hatred and urging the government to take immediate action against those responsible.
“This act of violence, driven by religious hatred, highlights a grave issue of intolerance and discrimination. The government of Pakistan must act decisively to hold accountable those inciting such hatred and attacking individuals and places of worship,” Jansen said in a statement.
Moreover, he emphasized upon the urgent need for Pakistan to dismantle systemic structures of religious hatred, discrimination, and violence, while ensuring the protection of minority rights. Janssen also expressed concern over the persistent culture of impunity, where perpetrators of such attacks often go unpunished, leaving religious minorities in constant fear of violence.
Further, Jansen pointed out that such inactions has allowed extremist forces to thrive unchecked, further exacerbating the threat to vulnerable communities.
In addition, Jansen also noted Pakistan’s obligations as a recipient of the EU’s Generalized Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+) status, which requires compliance with international human rights conventions. These include the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD).
“Failure to safeguard minority rights and prevent religious based violence undermines international commitments,” Janssen cautioned.
Jansen also urged authorities to prioritize justice and implement measures to prevent similar incidents in the future, asserting that such actions are essential for protecting religious minorities.