Pastor Afzal Masih narrowly survived a brutal axe and steel rod attack after requesting that sewage be diverted away from a Christian graveyard in Shahbaz Nagar 8 Chak, Faisalabad. BACA visited the injured pastor and his family, providing emergency financial assistance and standing in solidarity with them. While police have registered an FIR and arrested one suspect, the remaining alleged attackers remain at large. BACA is calling for swift justice, full protection for the pastor’s family, and greater safeguards for Pakistan’s vulnerable Christian communities.
Pastor Afzal Masih Brutally Attacked for Requesting Protection of Christian Graves in Shahbaz Nagar 8 Chak, Faisalabad
The British Asian Christian Association (BACA) has expressed grave concern following the violent assault on Pastor Afzal Masih (48), a Pentecostal minister serving a small congregation of approximately 25 to 30 Christian families in Shahbaz Nagar 8 Chak, Faisalabad.
The attack, which occurred at approximately 7:30am on 13 July 2026, is another stark reminder of the dangers faced by many Christians in Pakistan who simply seek to protect their places of worship, homes and burial grounds.
According to Pastor Afzal, tensions arose after he respectfully asked local Muslim residents to stop diverting sewage and stagnant marsh water into the Christian graveyard.
He explained:
“The sewage water defiles the sanctity of the graveyard therefore I requested them to divert the sewage flow.”
Rather than responding peacefully, a group of individuals allegedly identified as Akbar Javed, Ashgar Javed, Rashid Javed, Nazeera Bibi and others launched a violent attack.
The assailants reportedly used steel rods and an axe. Pastor Afzal sustained a fractured third finger on his right hand after being struck with a steel rod and suffered a deep head wound when an axe blow narrowly missed causing a fatal injury. He required four stitches to his head and was rushed to Allied Hospital Faisalabad for emergency treatment.
Pastor Afzal is the father of six children—four sons and two daughters. Alongside his pastoral ministry, he works as a senior clerk at the Faisalabad Development Authority (FDA), faithfully serving both his local church and the wider community.
Following the attack, Pastor Afzal submitted a complaint at Nishatabad Police Station. Police responded promptly by registering First Information Report (FIR No. 938/26) under Section 506 of the Pakistan Penal Code. One of the principal accused, Muhammad Akbar, has since been arrested. BACA welcomes this initial action but urges the authorities to arrest all remaining named suspects without delay and to ensure the ongoing safety of Pastor Afzal, his family and the Christian community in Shahbaz Nagar 8 Chak.
On 14 July, a BACA team visited Pastor Afzal at his residence to offer pastoral support and practical assistance. The team provided financial aid to help meet immediate medical expenses and the family’s urgent needs during this difficult period.
Pastor Afzal expressed his appreciation for the organisation’s swift response, saying:
“I am thankful to the BACA for financial help and support.”
He also appealed for continued legal assistance as his family seeks justice through the courts.
Please Support Pastor Afzal and His Family
Pastor Afzal and his family continue to face uncertainty, medical expenses, and the emotional trauma caused by this violent attack. While legal proceedings continue, they need ongoing support to help with essential needs and access to justice.
BACA is committed to standing with Christian families who face persecution, violence, and intimidation. Your generous support enables us to provide urgent assistance, legal support, and practical help to those who have nowhere else to turn.
Please consider making a donation today to help Pastor Afzal and other vulnerable Christian families facing persecution.
Donate here)
Every contribution, however large or small, makes a real difference and helps ensure that victims of injustice are not left to face their struggles alone.
Thank you for standing with persecuted Christians and supporting BACA’s mission of justice, advocacy, and compassion.
A Pattern of Religious Intolerance
This attack did not arise from a dispute over property or politics, but from a simple request to preserve the dignity of Christian graves. The desecration of burial sites strikes at the heart of every family’s right to mourn loved ones with respect and is protected under the fundamental principles of human dignity and freedom of religion.
Sadly, this incident reflects a broader pattern in which Pakistan’s Christian minority continues to experience intimidation, discrimination and violence for asserting even the most basic of rights. Although the prompt registration of the FIR and the arrest of one suspect are welcome developments, justice will only be complete when all those allegedly responsible are brought before the courts and Pastor Afzal’s family is able to live without fear of further reprisals.
BACA continues to call upon the Pakistani authorities to:
- Arrest all remaining named suspects without further delay.
- Ensure a thorough and impartial investigation into the attack.
- Provide effective protection for Pastor Afzal, his family and the Christian residents of Shahbaz Nagar 8 Chak.
- Safeguard Christian cemeteries and places of worship from further acts of desecration or intimidation.
Juliet Chowdhry, Trustee of the British Asian Christian Association, said:
“No family should fear violence because they asked for the graves of their loved ones to be treated with dignity. Pastor Afzal’s simple appeal to stop sewage from polluting a Christian cemetery was met with a savage assault that could easily have claimed his life. This attack exposes the deep insecurity faced by many Christians in Pakistan, where even peaceful requests for basic respect can provoke brutal retaliation. While we welcome the arrest of one suspect, justice will only be served when every alleged perpetrator is brought before the courts and Pastor Afzal’s family is given meaningful protection. BACA will continue to stand beside this courageous pastor, supporting his recovery and helping his family pursue justice until those responsible are held fully accountable.”
BACA remains committed to supporting Pastor Afzal Masih and his family through emergency relief, legal advocacy and international campaigning. We ask our supporters to keep Pastor Afzal, his loved ones and the Christian community of Shahbaz Nagar 8 Chak in their prayers, and to continue standing with persecuted Christians across Pakistan.
Please Support Pastor Afzal and His Family
Pastor Afzal and his family continue to face uncertainty, medical expenses, and the emotional trauma caused by this violent attack. While legal proceedings continue, they need ongoing support to help with essential needs and access to justice.
BACA is committed to standing with Christian families who face persecution, violence, and intimidation. Your generous support enables us to provide urgent assistance, legal support, and practical help to those who have nowhere else to turn.
Please consider making a donation today to help Pastor Afzal and other vulnerable Christian families facing persecution.
Donate (here)
Every contribution, however large or small, makes a real difference and helps ensure that victims of injustice are not left to face their struggles alone.
Thank you for standing with persecuted Christians and supporting BACA’s mission of justice, advocacy, and compassion.
