In a shocking act of religiously motivated violence, Waqas Masih, a 22-year-old Christian labourer, was brutally assaulted by his Muslim co-worker at Subhan Allah Paper Mills in Chak No. 16, Sharaqpur, allegedly following false accusations of blasphemy and repeated pressure to convert to Islam.
According to the victim’s father, Riyasat Masih, Waqas had been facing religious discrimination and coercion at the workplace for over a month prior to the attack. He was reportedly the only Christian employee at the factory where he had been working for the past six months as a contractor in the cardboard packaging department.
On Friday 21 March, around 3:30pm, Waqas’s father visited him at the mill. While they were speaking in a private room, Zohaib Iftikhar, a supervisor in charge at the factory, allegedly called Waqas over under a pretext. Once alone, Zohaib reportedly asked Waqas if he had accepted Islam. Upon Waqas’s firm refusal, Zohaib pulled out a sharp cardboard-cutting blade from his pocket and slashed Waqas’s throat, aiming at the jugular.
An eyewitness account from Riyasat confirms that Waqas collapsed in a pool of blood, sustaining severe neck injuries, while Zohaib immediately fled the scene.
Waqas’s father further stated that the attack appeared premeditated, as Zohaib had frequently initiated arguments over trivial matters in the days leading up to the incident. Just a day earlier, on 20 March, the two had reportedly argued over a minor work-related task.
The situation escalated when Zohaib allegedly accused Waqas of tearing pages from an Arabic textbook –a blasphemy accusation that carries serious legal consequences in Pakistan. Waqas’ family categorically denies the allegation, calling it fabricated and malicious.
The factory management, who had rushed Waqas to a local hospital, has reportedly cooperated with law enforcement and registered a First Information Report (FIR) at Sharaqpur Police Station. Zohaib has since been arrested and is currently in police custody pending investigation.
Waqas was transferred to Lahore’s Mayo Hospital on Saturday, 22 March, where he remains under critical medical care after receiving life-saving surgery. Though initially unable to speak due to his injuries, Waqas regained partial consciousness and requested a pen and paper to document the incident. Waqas Masih wrote a statement from his hospital bed in which he stated that Zohaib accused him of desecrating a copy of an Islamic textbook with “unclean hands” and though initially friendly in manner, suddenly attacked him. After realising the seriousness of his injury, Waqas tied his shirt around his neck to stop the bleeding and managed to escape before losing consciousness. He wrote that he has no memory of how he arrived at the hospital.
“This is not just an attack on my son; it is an attack on humanity. My son was targeted because of his faith. I urge the government to take the strictest possible action against the attacker and ensure protection for all religious minorities in Pakistan,” Riyasat Masih said in an emotional appeal.
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