Another Christian man has been accused of blasphemy after a heated argument between a construction self-employed labourer and his employer. Pervaiz Masih, a long time resident of Gahary Wala Kasur District was accused of saying insulting remarks against the Islamic prophet Muhammed on Tuesday 3rd September 2015.
Pervaiz had apparently won a contract with a Muslim brick kiln owner which infuriated a local Muslim businessmen Haji Jamshed, who wanted the contract for himself. Haji Jamshed had an argument with Pervaiz and alleges that during the heated discussion Pervaiz had committed a blasphemy, which he reported to the local police after consulting his local mosque.
The police responded to the blasphemy allegation by registering a customary written FIR and started their search for Pervaiz. Pervaiz states he did not know about the blasphemy charges being laid against him as he had not spoken any remark that could even be misconstrued in this way. As he was unaware of the impending allegation he was at his in-laws’ home in Khundiya, completely oblivious to the warrant for his arrest.
Pervaiz has a wife Zareena who has a minor disability and four children; Amir (8 Years), Praim (6 years), Sanam (3 years) and Anmol (only 7 months).
Shamun Masih believes the blasphemy charge was contrived by leading mosque leaders, he said:
“This was a pre-planned attack and was discussed in the local masjid (mosque) by Muslim olemas (leading clerics), They wanted to put fear in the local Christian community and led the business rival of my brother to place a blasphemy allegation against him.”
Accusations have been made by other residents that bullying and searches of unassociated families homes has left them feeling intimidated and under threat. They are also deeply concerned that other Muslims in the area are threatening them with violence in retaliation for a blasphemy. Many have locked their homes and fled to the homes of relatives, which again is a very typical response to situations such as these.
Naveed Masih, our Lahore based operative, met with the family today. He said:
“The family are in complete shock. These poor innocents have been beaten, threatened and have lost their main breadwinner. Pervaiz Maish was a hard working intelligent man, that was able to buy himself out of bonded labour making bricks at the brick kiln through his business idea of selling sand. That freedom that he and his family once had has been taken away so abruptly and now his wife and children are concerned about how they will survive.”
“In November last year Christians of Kasur saw a Christian couple burned alive after a false blasphemy charge, during the floods many sold themselves into slavery after the inundation devastated crops, their only source of income. Now this? Kasur has become a shabby place for Christians to live in and the government and security agents in place to serve them have failed miserably.”
The family have requested help with rent and groceries as they have now lost a main breadwinner. The mother will now have to bring up 4 children on her own. There monthly rent amounts to £70 per month and their groceries are also estimated at £70 per month including nappies and milk for the youngest child. We pray donors might help us secure one year’s support for the family to begin with at this stage.
Please consider giving to our work for the innocent. Donations can be sent using these bank details:
Sort Code: 20-44-22
Account number: 43163318
Bank: Barclays
SWIFTBIC: BARCGB22
Cheques should be made payable to the BPCA to our address: 57 Green Lane, Ilford, Essex, IG1 1XG.
BRITISH PAKISTANI CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION is a trading name for BRITISH PAKISTANI CHRISTIANS LTD which is a charity entered onto the Register of Charities with the Registered Charity Number 1163363
Thank you.
With your support we hope to change the lives of millions of Christians in Pakistan.
