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BACA has provided a new refrigerator for the orphaned children of Shama and Shahzad Masih after their old appliance became unsafe and unusable. The gift brings comfort, dignity, and improved living conditions to the children who continue to rebuild their lives after losing their parents in the Kasur tragedy. The children expressed immense gratitude for the support they receive from BACA donors, who have stood with them for more than a decade. This latest act of care reflects BACA’s ongoing commitment to protecting vulnerable Christian families facing hardship and persecution.
A family filled with joy as their new fridge brings relief from the summer heat and helps keep food fresh and water cool.
A Fridge, A Family, A Future: BACA Restores Dignity to the Orphaned Children of Kasur’s Christian Martyrs
The British Asian Christian Association (BACA) has provided a new refrigerator for the orphaned children of Shama and Shahzad Masih after discovering that their existing appliance had become a serious safety concern and was no longer able to adequately preserve food.
The gift is part of BACA’s ongoing commitment to caring for the three children of Shama and Shahzad Masih — the young Christian couple who were falsely accused of blasphemy and brutally murdered in Kasur, Pakistan, in 2014. More than a decade after their parents’ tragic deaths, BACA continues to provide practical support to ensure that Suleman, Sonia, and Poonam grow up in a safe and stable environment.
In November 2014, Shama and Shahzad Masih, bonded labourers from Kasur, were falsely accused of blasphemy following a dispute. The accusation resulted in a horrific mob attack in which the young couple were beaten and burned alive before any judicial process could take place.
Their three children — Suleman, Sonia, and Poonam — were left orphaned after witnessing the devastating loss of their parents.
Following the tragedy, BACA stepped in to provide urgent assistance, including educational support, daily care, and help with essential household needs. Over the years, this support has continued, helping the children and their grandfather and legal guardian, Mukhtar Masih, rebuild their lives with dignity and hope.
Recently, BACA was informed that the family’s refrigerator had deteriorated to the point where it had become unsafe. The appliance was heavily damaged, with the door repeatedly coming loose and falling away from the unit. The door was too heavy for the two girls, Sonia and Poonam, to lift back into position themselves, creating a constant risk of injury.
The damaged refrigerator also affected the family’s ability to safely store food. During the intense summer temperatures in Lahore, the appliance was unable to reliably preserve vegetables, dairy products, and other perishable items, increasing concerns about food safety and waste.
Mukhtar Masih explained:
“The fridge had become dangerous for the children. The door would come off again and again, and it was too heavy for the girls to put back in place. We were worried that they could be injured.”
He continued:
“The fridge was also not keeping food properly cool, which made it difficult to preserve vegetables and other items, especially during the extreme summer heat.”
The family also faced the additional challenge of coping with high temperatures without reliable access to chilled drinking water. The children longed for cool water and ice during the hottest days, but the condition of the old refrigerator made this increasingly difficult.
Mukhtar shared:
“In the extreme heat, the children needed cool water, but the old fridge could not provide it properly. They were struggling during the hottest days.”
Recognising the urgent need, BACA purchased and delivered a new refrigerator to the family on 30th June. The new appliance provides a safer environment, allows food to be stored properly, and gives the children greater comfort during Pakistan’s harsh summer months.
Fourteen-year-old Sonia expressed her happiness at receiving the new fridge:
“We are very happy because now we can keep our food safely and the fridge is no longer dangerous for us. It gives us peace of mind that we can use it without fear.”
Juliet Chowdhry, Trustee of the British Asian Christian Association, said:
“The replacement of this refrigerator was not simply about providing a household appliance; it was about removing a daily danger from the lives of these children. A broken fridge door that a child cannot safely lift, combined with the inability to preserve food during extreme heat, created unnecessary risks for this vulnerable family. We are thankful to our supporters who make it possible for BACA to respond to these practical needs and ensure that children like Shama and Shahzad’s children can live with greater safety and dignity.”
Sonia and Mukhtar check their new refrigerator, a vital gift that will protect food from Lahore’s intense summer heat and provide chilled water to make the hot days more bearable.
BACA remains committed to supporting vulnerable Christian families in Pakistan through practical assistance, legal advocacy, and compassionate care. The continued support of donors enables BACA to respond when families face urgent needs and ensures that those who have suffered persecution are not forgotten.
Please consider supporting the work of the British Asian Christian Association as we continue to provide hope, protection, and practical help to persecuted and vulnerable Christians in Pakistan. donate (here).
