A 16-year-old Christian boy, Daud Masih, was brutally shot dead in Sheikhupura after confronting a Muslim man accused of soliciting a minor Christian relative.
The murder followed months of threats ignored by local intervention efforts, culminating in a broad daylight attack in Bhikki village.
Daud’s grieving family is demanding justice as police confirm the arrest of the accused, Muhammad Junaid, under Section 302 of the Pakistan Penal Code.
The British Asian Christian Association (BACA) has provided funeral support and pledged legal assistance for the devastated family.
A horrific act of violence has devastated a Christian family in Sheikhupura, Pakistan, after a 16-year-old Christian boy was brutally murdered in broad daylight following a dispute involving the protection of a minor relative.
On 8th April 2026, Daud Masih (16) was shot dead by a Muslim man identified as Muhammad Junaid while returning home from a local market in Bhikki village, Sheikhupura. Daud had been shopping for groceries alongside his uncle, Sajad Masih, and relative Ishaq Masih when the attack occurred.
According to eyewitness accounts, Muhammad Junaid suddenly appeared, drew a pistol, shouted slogans, and opened fire. One bullet struck Daud in the chest, just below his heart. Junaid then reportedly fired at Sajad and Ishaq Masih, who narrowly escaped by running for cover.
Emergency responders from 1122 rushed Daud to District Headquarters Hospital Sheikhupura, but doctors pronounced him dead on arrival.
A Murder Rooted in Threats and Harassment
Daud’s grieving mother, Fehmida Bibi (35), shared the painful background behind the murder with representatives from the British Asian Christian Association (BACA).
Through tears, she said:
“Every corner of our home reminds me of my son. His laughter is gone, his voice is silent, and the pain of his absence is tearing my soul apart.”
Fehmida explained that approximately two months before the murder, Daud had confronted Muhammad Junaid for allegedly soliciting a minor Christian relative of the family. Daud strongly reprimanded him and warned him to stay away from the child.
Rather than backing down, Junaid allegedly threatened Daud with severe consequences for interfering.
Concerned about the escalating tension, Fehmida approached Junaid’s mother and informed her about the threats, hoping she would intervene to calm her son. Instead, later that same evening, Junaid’s mother reportedly came to Fehmida’s home and verbally abused her in the street.
Fehmida recalled a chilling statement made by Junaid during that confrontation:
“Wait and see — you will soon witness what I am going to do to Daud.”
Despite the threats, the family never imagined that the situation would end in such brutal violence.
Shock and Grief Across the Community
News of Daud’s murder sent shockwaves throughout the local Christian community. Following a postmortem examination, his body was returned to the family and buried the following day in a local graveyard.
Daud was the eldest son of Fehmida Bibi and Farooq Masih (40), a daily wage labourer at a paper factory earning approximately Rs.1,000 (£2.66) per day. His death has left the already impoverished family emotionally shattered and financially vulnerable.
On 12th April 2026, a BACA team visited the grieving family to offer condolences, pray with them, and provide financial assistance that covered all funeral expenses.
The family has appealed to the British Asian Christian Association (BACA) for legal support to ensure justice is secured for Daud Masih. Assistance is urgently needed to secure a suitable solicitor and to cover the family’s travel expenses to and from court proceedings. A total of £2,000 is required to support this pursuit of justice. If you would like to stand with this grieving family in their fight for accountability and truth, please consider donating (here).
Police Action and Demand for Justice
Bhikki Police registered a First Information Report (FIR No. 708/26) against Muhammad Junaid under Section 302 of the Pakistan Penal Code relating to murder.
Police have confirmed the arrest of the accused, who has since been transferred to Sheikhupura Jail on judicial remand pending further legal proceedings.
The family and local Christian community are urging authorities to ensure that justice is carried through without intimidation or delay, fearing that religious minorities in Pakistan often struggle to receive equal protection under the law.
Daud Masih is being remembered as a courageous young boy who stood up to protect a vulnerable minor relative — a decision that ultimately cost him his life.
Juliet Chowdhry, Trustee for British Asian Christian Association, said:
“We are devastated by the brutal killing of yet another young Christian life. This case highlights a deeply troubling reality in Pakistan, where justice can be undermined by the misuse of Qisas and Diyat laws. In practice, these provisions can allow perpetrators of murder—and in some cases even rape—to avoid full punishment if they secure a so-called ‘compromise’ with the victim’s family through compensation payments. In many instances, however, these agreements are not truly voluntary, but are reached under duress, intimidation, or financial coercion, particularly against vulnerable minority families. This creates a dangerous perception of impunity, where the powerful can effectively buy their way out of accountability. It is therefore essential that bereaved Christian families are given robust legal protection and independent support, so that justice is not denied through pressure or manipulation.”
