Bashir Masih and his family in their new home courtesy of the BPCA.
The family of Bashir Masih moved to an area called Gujar Khan two years ago after saving all their money to buy a small plot of land a few years earlier on which they built a home over time. However local Muslims soon discovered they were Christian and began threatening them to leave their property as ‘Christians were not welcome in the area’.
A brutal attack on the family in September this year, followed by an arson attack on their home and mini-bus vehicle which was their family business ensued, but the perpetrators were released on bail after their initial arrest (click here).
This has meant the family have had to enter a long court process to prosecute their attackers so that they can safely return to their home and gain some manner of compensation for their huge losses.
With the support of our gracious donors we have helped the family by providing a safe house some distance from their home. Three of the attackers namely, Mohammad Ehsan, Mohammad Naqqash and Mohammad Adnan have now been arrested again after their pre-release bail given by the session court was cancelled. All three men are now approaching Lahore High Court for a return of their bail. We are extremely hopeful that High Court judges will retain the current position and not re-open the opportunity for bail to the perpetrators of these crimes. Three other men who were implicated in the criminal acts have absconded and a nationwide man-hunt is in operation to arrest the dangerous Muslim attackers.
The family have spoken of their desire to return to their home, as they are desperate to begin the work to restore their home. The house was built with their own sweat and blood and was paid for by a hard-earned retirement fund quantifying the entirety of their life-savings and they are loathed to give up what is rightfully theirs.
In the meanwhile verbal threats continue to be received by the family which are a great worry for them.
“We are confident we will get justice as bails for the men caught has been cancelled and this gives us strength to continue the fight.
“We are still getting threatened by other family members of the attackers and the men who have escaped justice by fleeing the area and going into hiding. But the safe house has meant they cannot get at us.
“Please continue to pray for justice in this situation, as we still have a long way to go. We do not want to lose our home which we invested all our lives getting and we trust God for his mercy and justice in this situation.”
The family has requested an extension of the safe house for a further three months, however our rent is 300 GBP per month and we must find the funds to continue this rent. If you can help us reach our target of 900 GBP please (click here)
