In the village of Hundal, Kot Radha Kishen, a tragic incident unfolded when Wishal Masih, a 23-year-old Christian, fell victim to a senseless act of violence perpetrated by a Muslim group.
Tensions between two criminal factions, the Israel and Zakir groups, escalated to a fatal confrontation, with Wishal caught in the crossfire.
Mistakenly identified as a member of the Zakir group by the Israel faction, Wishal was mercilessly gunned down in cold blood.
On the evening of April 25th, Wishal left his home to purchase sweets for his family from Rafiq Sweets. Little did he know that this simple errand would be his last. As he entered the shop, armed members of the Israel Group, including Muhammad Shahid, Muhammad Azam, and Muhammad Israr, along with three unidentified accomplices, stormed in. Without hesitation, Muhammad Israr aimed his firearm at Wishal and unleashed a fatal shot, leaving him fatally wounded.
Despite efforts to save him, Wishal was pronounced dead upon arrival at General Hospital Lahore. His mother, Shareefa Bibi, devastated by the loss of her son, expressed her anguish, emphasizing that her family harbored no ill will towards anyone.
Wishal, a beloved member of his family, was a supervisor at Sapphire Factory Kot Radha Kishen. Married for two years to his wife Fozia Wishal, he leaves behind a young son, Arman Masih. Contrary to the assumptions of his assailants, Wishal had no affiliations with either the Zakir or Israel groups.
Amanat Masih, Wishal’s cousin and eyewitness to the tragedy, recounted how Muhammad Israr had previously threatened Wishal due to baseless suspicions of association with the Zakir group. Despite Amanat’s attempts to reason with Israr, the fatal attack on Wishal proceeded, underscoring the impunity with which such violence occurs in their community.
Despite the lodging of an FIR, the perpetrators remain at large, evading justice. In the face of this injustice, the family of Wishal Masih seeks assistance from BACA to pursue legal recourse and demand accountability for the senseless murder of their beloved son. The family is in urgent need of financial assistance to afford legal representation so that they can challenge for justice. A solicitor’s fee of approximately £1500 is required. If you wish to support this family in their pursuit of justice, you can donate (here).
“Juliet Chowdhry, trustee for the British Asian Christian Association, expressed deep concern over the tragic death of a young, healthy Christian man due to mistaken association.
“The loss of this young life has plunged a family into inconsolable grief and sorrow. Yet, the perpetrators of this heinous crime roam freely, perpetuating their malicious acts without fear of consequences.
“In any civilized society, law enforcement would swiftly apprehend known criminals. However, Pakistan consistently demonstrates a glaring lack of effective rule of law.
“This grieving family deserves justice, and we are committed to tirelessly advocating on their behalf. Without holding perpetrators accountable and dismantling the culture of impunity, such atrocities will persist unchecked.”
