Living in Fear: BACA Meets Christian Family Forced into Hiding Following Karachi Mob Attack

After false blasphemy allegations sparked a violent mob attack on their home, Azeem Javed and his family have been forced into hiding across multiple secret locations to escape death threats. During a fact-finding visit to Karachi, BACA met the traumatised family, who have lost their home, livelihoods and sense of security. Fearing arrest, vigilante violence and possible extra-judicial killing, they have appealed to BACA for urgent relocation to a safe house and practical support to rebuild their lives.

On 23rd July 2026, a British Asian Christian Association (BACA) team travelled to Karachi to meet Azeem Javed and his mother Razia Bibi, who are among seven members of a Christian family falsely accused of desecrating pages of the Quran on 9th July 2026.

The allegations triggered a violent mob attack on the family’s home in Baldia Colony, Karachi, forcing them to flee for their lives. Today, the family remains scattered across several undisclosed locations, living in constant fear of discovery by extremists.

The family consists of seven members, including Razia Bibi (58) and her son Azeem Javed (27). Azeem and his younger brother, Shamroz Javed, are both qualified civil engineering draftsmen who worked for the same construction company. Since the allegations surfaced, both men have lost their employment, leaving the family without an income.

Meeting with Azeem Javed and Razia Bibi

BACA representatives met privately with Azeem and Razia alongside human rights activist Luke Peter and Pastor Ghazala Shafique, who have been providing legal advocacy and advice to the family since the attack.

They explained that although Azeem has not yet been arrested, his written statement proclaiming his innocence has been submitted by courier to the Superintendent of Police. However, concerns remain that police could arrest him at any time under pressure from extremist groups.

Luke Peter described the seriousness of the case. According to the First Information Report (FIR), an envelope allegedly containing photographs of Azeem and his mother, copies of their identity cards, and burnt pages of the Quran was discovered, leading to accusations that the family had committed blasphemy.

Within hours, hundreds of enraged protesters descended upon the family’s home.

Credit was given to Sindh Police, the Pakistan Rangers, and politicians including Anthony Naveed, the first Christian Deputy Speaker of the Sindh Assembly, and Roma Mushtaq, Member of the Sindh Assembly, whose intervention helped prevent what could have become another brutal mob lynching.

Police and Rangers successfully evacuated the family before the crowd could reach them and advised them never to return home. Since then, local Christian activists have sheltered Azeem and his mother in temporary accommodation, while other relatives remain hidden elsewhere.

Extremist Pressure Continues

Pastor Ghazala Shafique warned that several religious organisations continue to pressure police to arrest Azeem and his brother Shamroz.

Delegations have reportedly visited the Superintendent of Police demanding immediate arrests.

Both Luke Peter and Pastor Ghazala expressed grave concern that if Azeem is detained, he could face serious danger either while in police custody or when appearing before court. Public statements made by politicians immediately after the incident promising that those accused “would not be spared” have further heightened fears that due process may not be respected.

A Family Left Destitute

On the day of the incident, police sealed the family’s three-storey home in Sector D-3, Baldia Town.

Everything remains inside the property, including clothing, furniture, household possessions, important legal documents, identity cards and family savings. One floor of the property had been rented out and another was occupied by a shopkeeper, meaning the family’s rental income has also disappeared overnight.

Adding to their hardship, Azeem’s younger sister, Areej, is recovering from a serious road traffic accident which left her with a fractured hip.

For security reasons, family members now live separately at different undisclosed locations.

“Our Lives Have Changed Forever”

After requesting that no photographs or video recordings be taken for security reasons, Azeem and his mother agreed to speak with BACA.

Both appeared visibly traumatised.

Azeem described living under constant psychological pressure and said he now suffers from severe anxiety, high blood pressure and continues to experience health problems following a previous stroke. His mother was equally distressed.

He told BACA:

“I can never think of desecrating the Quran. I don’t know who did this or why they framed us.”

He added:

“The incident has changed our lives forever. I cannot go anywhere. I am frightened even to visit relatives because I fear someone will recognise me.”

Describing the day everything changed, Azeem explained that while at work he received a telephone call from an unknown person accusing him of burning verses of the Quran and threatening that he would not be spared.

When he contacted the tenant renting part of his family home, he was told hundreds of people had surrounded the property and that returning home would almost certainly cost him his life.

At the time, only his mother, grandmother and sister were inside the house. Police and Rangers evacuated them in an armoured vehicle before the mob could reach them.

His mother confirmed that police took statements from family members but refused to provide copies of those statements.

Azeem later submitted a detailed written statement declaring his innocence.

Responding to rumours that the family had staged the incident to obtain asylum abroad, Azeem categorically rejected the allegations.

“We had good jobs and a comfortable life. If I wanted to work abroad, I have professional qualifications that could help me obtain a visa legally. We never needed to fabricate something like this.”

His mother added:

“We are homeless now. Our house was worth more than one crore rupees. Everything we owned has gone. Our family is scattered in different places and we never imagined our lives could be destroyed overnight.”

Appeal for Urgent Help

Azeem has appealed to BACA to help relocate the family to a secure home where they can live together without placing additional strain on those currently sheltering them.

He also explained that if BACA could provide two laptops, he and his brother could resume their computer-aided drafting work remotely and once again provide for their family.

“I want somewhere safe where my whole family can live together. I don’t want to remain a burden on other people. If we have laptops, we can work from home and earn an honest living again.”

Relocating the family to a secure property will cost approximately Rs.140,000 (£370) to cover one month’s advance rent and a three-month security deposit.

BACA has agreed to fund six months’ rent to help the family establish a new beginning.

The family has also requested two laptops to enable Azeem and Shamroz to continue their engineering drafting work from home. The cost of two suitable laptops is estimated at Rs.150,000–200,000 (£405–£540).

Juliet Chowdhry Calls for Urgent Action

BACA Trustee Juliet Chowdhry said:

“This family has lost almost everything because of an accusation they insist is entirely fabricated. They have been stripped of their home, their livelihoods and the freedom to live without fear. Yet despite unimaginable trauma, they are not asking for charity to sustain them indefinitely—they are asking for the opportunity to rebuild their lives with dignity through honest work. We cannot allow another innocent Christian family to become victims of Pakistan’s broken blasphemy laws and mob violence. Every donation will help provide safety, stability and hope when they need it most.”

Help Us Protect Azeem Javed’s Family

Azeem Javed and his family have lost almost everything in a matter of days. Their home has been sealed by the authorities, they have been forced into hiding across multiple secret locations, both Azeem and his brother have lost their jobs, and they continue to live under the constant threat of arrest or vigilante violence.

BACA has already committed to funding six months’ rent for a secure home where the entire family can finally live together in safety. However, we still need your help to make this possible and to provide the practical support that will enable them to become self-sufficient once again.

Your donation could help provide:

• £370 – Covers the 3 months advance rent and security deposit required to relocate the family to a safe house.
• £300 – Covers  a furher 3 months rent.
• £405–£540 – Provides two laptops so Azeem and his brother can resume their civil engineering drafting work from home and support their family with dignity.
• Any amount – Helps meet the family’s immediate living costs, including food, transport, clothing, medical needs and emergency assistance while they remain in hiding.

False blasphemy accusations continue to devastate innocent Christian families across Pakistan. Long before any court considers the evidence, entire communities often become judge, jury and executioner, forcing innocent people to flee for their lives.

Your generosity will not only provide practical assistance—it will send a powerful message that this family has not been abandoned. Together, we can offer them safety, restore hope and help them rebuild a future after everything they have worked for was torn away.

Please donate (here) today and stand with Azeem Javed, Razia Bibi and their family as they begin the difficult journey towards safety, justice and recovery.