A Christian farmer was shot dead in Okara Pakistan, after asking 3 Muslim men to stop eating and wasting his fruit. Read full account (here)
Renala Khurd Police have identified the killers, but have only been able to arrest one of the 3 murderers, Muhammed Intizar, though the crime occurred in January 2023. Mr Intizar was arrested at his home the day after the killing.
Police authorities are aware that Muhammad Awais has escaped to another city while Muhammad Osama has fled Pakistan to avoid arrest.
Though pre-arrest bail was originally given to one murderer Mr Muhammed Awais we are hopeful that this will now be denied in a future hearing on 27th April, with the help of a BACA funded solicitor.
Our advocate has already succeeded in denying post-arrest bail for Muhammad Intizar on 17th April.
Watch our previous video here:
On 11th January 2023, a gang of three Muslim men brutally shot a struggling Christian guava farmer in Okara, Pakistan, after he asked them to stop eating and trashing his fruits.
After shooting the farmer the men threatened the frightened Christian family with death if they told the police, then laughed maniacally as they ran away.
As the made their getaway the men shouted out ‘you Christian chura [filthy sweepers] have no chance of justice, we can kill you any time we want’.
Okara Police only ever arrested one of the culprits and have an All Points Bulletin (APB) out for the other two known fugitives. BACA appointed Muhammad Raiz Sadiq, one of the most competent lawyers in Okara District Courts to challenge for justice for murdered Christian, Allah Ditta. he has played an active role in trying to secure justice for Allah Ditta and the family he left behind, since his appointment.
One of the culprits Muhammad Intizar who is currently in judicial custody and was sent to Okara Jail, applied for post arrest bail immediately, a hearing was held on 28th March 2023 and yesterday (17th April) bail was denied to Mr Intizar by Judge Hassan Abass Syed, at Okara District Court. In the court Advocate Sadiq, argued:
“The accused Muhammad Intizar is involved in the murder of Allah Ditta. It was on his instigation that the perpetrator committed the crime of murder.
He should not be allowed to be bailed”
Judge Syed accepted the argument and denied bail for Muhammad Intizar.
BACA took Kashif Masih (26 yrs) the 2nd oldest child of murdered Allah Ditta to District Court Okara for the hearing of the post-arrest bail applied by Muhammad Intizar. He said:
“I was pleased when the Judge refused the bail for Muhammed Intizar.
“His family said that we would not succeed with this case, they believe they are more powerful than the courts.
“I now have have improved confidence that justice will be served.”
One of the fugitives, Muhammad Awais has filed an application for pre-arrest bail which was granted to him on 15 February at the same court, by the same judge. He has never had to turn himself in to the Police who are still searching for him, but will not be able to arrest him.
Advocate Sadiq has already filed an application for the cancellation of pre-arrest bail granted to Muhammad Awais, earlier by the court. The date for a hearing is fixed for 27th April.
Advocate Sadiq, spoke with BACA, he said:
“I am very hopeful for the cancellation of the pre arrest bail of Muhammad Awais”
“These 3 men have committed a terrible crime and they will be punished for it”
“Murdering Allah Ditta was a disgusting show of power.
“The culprits took a human life because of their pride and prejudice towards the deceased”
Kashif Masih thanked the donors of BACA for making it possible to hire a solicitor who has transformed the judicial process for this murder trial. He said:
“It would have been difficult for us to pay for a solicitor.
“Without one I doubt we would have had any success even though there is so much evidence.
“I am thankful to every donor of BACA who has helped us fight for justice for our father”
We have paid £800 towards the solicitor costs for the family and are required to pay a further £800 If you would like to contribute towards our provision of legal advocates to persecuted Christian in Pakistan please donate by clicking (here)
Muhammad Khalil, the father of Muhammad Intizar and Usama’s father have both approached the Masih family for a compromise deal.
On 22nd March, they called Allah Ditta’s eldest son Shahbaz Masih (30 yrs) and his eldest cousin Subadar Masih (58 yrs) to their house, and asked them to accept a bribe of 4,000,000 Pak-Rs and drop charges against their sons. The family have declined but were being forced to place their thumbprints on a blank legal paper – though they did not accede.
You can learn more about Pakistan’s Stamp Paper [Government issued legal papers] by clicking (here)
Shahbaz and Subadar, told the two families agreed that the only compromise deal that the two families would agree to would be based on the Usama giving himself up to the Police and a life sentence instead of death sentence. At this however, Osama’s father became infuriated and he shouted at them:
“I will see what you can do.
I am taking pity on you and your family but you are insisting on giving way to enmity, which is not good for you”
This far the Masih’s have not seen an escalation of this threat but they are living in fear. BACA will be considering taking them to a safehouse if any direct action is taken.
The family is struggling financially since the death of their father. Shahbaz Masih cannot work as he is near blind. Kashif Masih finds some labor work and with this earns just enough money to feed his family. The eldest daughter Misbah (24 yrs) attends midwifery classes from at District hospital in Renala Khurd.
Kashif Masih explained their financial difficulties to BACA, he said:
“After my father’s death we could not bear to work in the Guava farm anymore.
“Without a yield we could not pay the rent for the farm which has now been let to someone else.
“My sister is studying, Shahbaz cannot work and I am now harvesting whet as a labourer for another farmer.
“Whenever I attend court hearings I lose a days earning.
“We struggle to pay the fare for my sister to travel to hospital for her learning.
“It was my father’s desire that his daughter becomes a nurse and we want to bring that dream to fruition, it will secure her future.
“Fighting for justice is not an easy task for us but I am thankful to the Lord for sending you to us to help us”
We have started supporting this family financially as they get through a difficult period in their lives after the loss of their father to a brutal murder. We also paid for all funeral costs for Allah Ditta. We are supporting many families in similar crises and want to help this family for at least 6 months. If you would like to contribute towards this work please donate to our ‘Grants for Persecuted Christians’ fund by clicking (here).
Juliet Chowdhry, Trustee for British Asian Christian Association, said:
“In the usual shameless way Muslim families are seeking the exoneration of their children from charges of murder of a Christian man.
“This because the notorious Qisas and Diyat Laws permit freedom at a price.
“This particular Sharia law [Quranic codes of practice] is utterly offensive to any non-Muslim.
“To be able to purchase freedom from rape and murder charges even when evidence is heavily weighted against you is a travesty of justice.
“But every Muslim family that offers a bribe for freedom of a relative who has committed murder, inevitably believe they are giving a favour to the wretched Christian families it is offered to.
“BACA has countless evidence of this social malaise.
“When they don’t get their way, powerful Muslim families threaten Christian families.
“Even then the family of Allah Ditta have refused a compromise deal and continue to challenge for justice.
“Their commendable bravery deserves our support and I challenge Christians in safe western nations to call on their MP’s to write to the Pakistani Government seeking justice for this family.”
Learn more about Qisas and Diyat laws (here)
After 2 Christian girls were brutally gangraped in Jaranwal in 2015, British Asian Christian Association, assisted the family. Months later the family suffered a gun attack at their home for not dropping charges against the young Muslim men. The rapists later escaped justice. Read more (here).
The mother of Badil Masih, gave up a court case for murder of her 10 year old son afte the men that sodomised her 10 year old son and then killed him, threatened to kill her remaining son. Fearing she would lose her court case when key eye-witnesses threatened to lie in court aftre being bribed or threatened, she accepted a compromise deal under duress. filled with grief Sharifah died weeks later wracked in guilt and depression (click here) leaving behind her remaining orphaned son of 10 years. Read more (here)
