In a harrowing incident that has left the Christian community in shock, 32-year-old Asif Raza, an unmarried Christian man from Munwar Town Bhatta, Daniwal, District Vehari, Punjab, was brutally murdered in an attack by a Muslim extremist group. Asif, who had been engaged and was eagerly preparing for marriage, met a tragic and violent end that underscores the dangerous reality faced by religious minorities in Pakistan.
Around 7:00 PM, while returning home, Asif was ambushed near the Daniwal graveyard by seven assailants, including three identified attackers—Azan, Wahab, and Hanan. The attackers, who are believed to be part of a radical group, violently assaulted Asif, repeatedly hitting him in the head with bricks. His cries for help went unheard, and despite being rushed to the hospital, the injuries he sustained were too severe, and he succumbed to his wounds.
This attack was not just a random act of violence—it was an act of religious hatred, targeting Asif because of his Christian faith and his perceived vulnerability as a member of a marginalized community. And yet, in the aftermath, the government’s response has been inadequate.
While one of the assailants, Wahab, has been arrested, the other perpetrators remain at large. The authorities’ failure to swiftly apprehend all those responsible highlights a troubling pattern of inaction when it comes to protecting religious minorities. The case is a grim reminder of how the government’s lack of urgency in addressing sectarian violence has allowed extremism to flourish unchecked, leaving minority communities vulnerable to violence and discrimination.
The Christian community in Vehari is devastated, but their grief is compounded by the realization that this is not an isolated incident. This attack, like many before it, reveals a stark truth: religious minorities in Pakistan continue to live in fear, knowing that their safety and well-being are often secondary to political expediency.
Asif’s family is not only mourning the loss of a beloved son and brother but also the failure of the system that should have protected him. Their calls for justice are drowned out by a government that has repeatedly failed to take meaningful action in addressing the rising tide of religious extremism.
This tragedy is a direct result of the government’s complacency in curbing hate-driven violence and ensuring the safety of religious minorities. If the state continues to turn a blind eye to such atrocities, it sends a clear message that the lives of minorities do not matter. The government’s inaction in cases like these perpetuates a cycle of impunity, leaving those responsible free to continue their campaign of terror.
Asif’s death must not be allowed to be another statistic. His family and the Christian community in Vehari demand justice, not just for Asif, but for all those whose lives have been lost due to religious hatred. The government must act, and it must act now, to protect its citizens, hold the perpetrators accountable, and ensure that no one else suffers the same fate. The silence of the state is a betrayal of its people, and the time for action is long overdue.