A tragic incident unfolded as a 38-year-old Christian man, was discovered deceased in a water pond outside Nasrat Colony Joyawala, Sheikhupura, on February 23rd, 2024.
The murderer slit the throat of the Christian man and threw his dead body into a water pond.
The postmortem report unveiled that Mr. Masih had fallen victim to a brutal murder, his throat slit with a sharp weapon approximately a month prior.
Authorities are diligently investigating the perpetrator the man’s employer to uncover the motive behind this heinous crime.
On the ill-fated morning of January 24th, 2024, around 6:00 am, Mr Asif Masih was summoned by Mr. Dogar, his employer and a building contractor, to report for work at a construction site. Mr. Masih worked as a mason. Despite his mother’s pleas to have breakfast before leaving for a very unusual early morning start, Mr Masih departed with Mr. Dogar. Tragically, it was the last interaction between him and his mother, Seema Bibi, a 60-year-old widow.
Concerns heightened when Mr Masih failed to return home that night. However, given his frequent extended stays at construction sites, the family initially dismissed his absence. Mr Masih would often spend several days at the construction site, returning home after a week or more.
On February 3rd, Seema Bibi visited Mr Dogar’s residence, imploring him to send Asif Masih home as his children were longing for him. Mr Dogar sorrowfully informed the distressed mother that her son was no longer employed by him. She beseeched Mr Dogar to disclose Asif’s whereabouts, to which he vaguely responded that Asif would return in a few days. The hapless mother left without any information about her missing son. Mr Dogar provided no further information.
On February 10th, the despondent mother, Seema Bibi, reached out to Muhammad Shonka Dogar, the father of Mr Dogar, seeking information about Mr Masih. He informed her that only Mr Dogar knew the whereabouts of Mr Masih. Seema Bibi then approached Mr. Dogar again, pleading for information about her son, but Mr Dogar adamantly refused to provide any details. Faced with this distressing situation, the depressed mother sought assistance from the Housing Colony Police station. However, her plea for help was met with disappointment as the police officers advised her to continue searching for her son independently.
As concern for Mr Masih escalated within the family, Seema Bibi contacted Faisal Masih, a pastor at the local church, on February 16th, and shared her anxieties about her missing son. Pastor Faisal, accompanied by other elders from the Christian community, intervened by submitting an application for the registration of a First Information Report (FIR). Consequently, the police registered First Incient Report (FIR) No. 338/24 and apprehended Mr Dogar from his residence for questioning.
On February 23rd, during police interrogation, the murderer, Mr Dogar, confessed to the killing of Mr. Masih and disclosed that he had disposed of the body in a water pond near the village. Subsequently, the police recovered Mr Masih’s deceased body from the pond.
“I couldn’t bear to see the lifeless body of my beloved son as the police retrieved it from the water,” lamented Seema Bibi. “His death has shattered my world completely. I had already been raising my children alone after the death of my husband, and now this merciless act by Dogar has robbed me of my son.”
Kashif Masih (28 yrs) shared his heart-wrenching experience of identifying his brother’s body when it was brought out of the water. “I couldn’t recognize him at first; his face was so distorted. But then, I spotted the trousers he was wearing under his shalwar kameez. It felt as though my heart was being torn out of my chest.”
The deceased Mr. Masih’s body was transported to District Headquarters Hospital Sheikhupura for a postmortem examination. The Medico Legal Certificate (MLC) issued by Dr. Muhammad Farooq Ashgar determined that Mr. Masih’s cause of death was a wound to his neck.
Mr. Masih was laid to rest on February 23rd, the same day his body was recovered. He is survived by his wife, Majeeda Bibi (33 yrs), and their four daughters: Sonia (12 yrs), Malaika (10 yrs), Sunaiha (8 yrs), Rimsha (1.5 yrs), as well as a son named Suleman (7 yrs). With tears streaming down her face, Majeeda Bibi spoke with BACA, expressing her anguish:
“Every day since I learned of Asif’s death, tears have streamed down my face. Though I take solace in knowing that Asif is now in heaven, for he was a steadfast believer in Christ and has surely earned his sacred rest, the pain of his passing still weighs heavily upon me.”
“The culprit has left my children orphaned, our lives are now shattered, and we must find a way to survive without my husband. I know God will be there for us, but I also pray that Asif’s murderer be brought to justice. Mr. Dogar has callously ruined our lives and must be prevented from doing the same to others”
On February 24th, the BACA team visited the family to offer prayers and comfort for the profound loss they had endured. Residing in a rented house, the family is now facing a daunting future as Mr. Masih was the sole provider. Recognizing their challenging circumstances, BACA has generously covered the funeral expenses and provided one month’s financial support. However, we aim to extend our assistance for six months to help the family adapt to life without Asif, contingent upon raising the necessary funds. To facilitate this extended support, we need to raise £150 per month, which will help them meet their daily needs. We rely on the generosity of our donors and warmly invite you to contribute (here).
Pastor Faisal Hadyat expressed heartfelt gratitude to BACA for their unwavering moral and financial support extended to the family during this trying period
The family has requested legal support to aid them in seeking justice, which entails raising an additional £1500. In Pakistan, solicitors are crucial for murder trials due to the possibility that individuals can evade convictions for murder and rape by apologizing and providing compensation payments to victims’ families under the country’s Qisas and Diyat Laws (click here for more information). Additionally, family members of Mr. Dogar have already threatened the vulnerable family of the deceased. Consequently, we are considering relocating them to a safe house for the duration of any trial. You can contribute towards these matters using the same donation link provided above.
Juliet Chowdhry, Trustee for the British Asian Christian Association, stated:
“The murder and disposal of Mr. Masih’s body in such a cold and calculated manner by an employer or anyone with a vendetta against non-Muslims is sadly not a new occurrence. Wealthy Muslims have long exploited the horrific Qisas and Diyat Ordinance, a law that has fostered one of the most despicable mindsets among sections of Pakistan’s populace.
“Pakistani human rights activists have tirelessly campaigned for the removal of these pernicious laws, but they are deeply entrenched in Islamic Sharia law, and the determination to abolish them is lacking in a radicalized nation.
“Justice for Mr. Masih will undoubtedly be difficult to achieve given such a deplorable national mindset. Nevertheless, we will persist in our prayers and efforts to advocate for justice.”
