A Christian man, targeted by an angry mob in Punjab’s Sargodha district over alleged blasphemy, succumbed to his injuries on Monday morning, police officials reported.
Nazir Masih, over 70 years old, had been receiving treatment at CMH Hospital in Rawalpindi for nine days, according to the spokesperson for Regional Police Officer (RPO) Sharik Kamal Siddiqui. Despite undergoing two surgeries, Masih could not survive the severe head injuries inflicted during the attack. His postmortem has been completed, and he will be buried later today.
The incident occurred on May 25 in Sargodha when an enraged mob attacked Masih in the Mujahid Colony area, torturing him over alleged blasphemy. The mob also vandalized his house, set fire to a shoe factory within the property, burned tires, and damaged electricity installations in the area.
Following the violent incident, police detained at least 25 individuals. They relocated Masih and his family to an undisclosed location for their safety. Sargodha Division Commissioner Muhammad Ajmal Bhatti assured that those responsible for the attack would be brought to justice through a transparent inquiry.
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) expressed serious concerns over the incident and urged the Punjab Police and district administration to promptly bring the perpetrators to justice.