A harrowing assault on a Christian worker in Pakistan’s Gujranwala has ignited fury among rights activists, exposing entrenched religious intolerance. Four fruit vendors allegedly bashed Yusuf Masih with a two-kg iron weight, leaving him critically injured in the heart of a busy Punjab marketplace.
Voice of Pakistan Minority (VOPM) cites witnesses who describe the frenzied attack and the hesitant yet heroic intervention by locals. The group notes prior verbal assaults on Masih’s manager, painting a picture of escalating hostility.
Pastor Imran Amanat’s poignant remark cuts to the core: ‘This violence mirrors the routine abuse heaped on Christian workers—discrimination masked as disdain.’ Punjab’s Christian enclaves, rife with laborers in menial hygiene roles, live under this shadow of exclusion.
For generations, these communities have shouldered economic woes and cultural ostracism, their essential contributions overlooked. VOPM insists Masih’s quest for redress probes Pakistan’s soul—does it truly uphold justice for the marginalized?
Beyond immediate arrests, the incident urges introspection on policies fostering minority safety. In a diverse nation, ignoring such atrocities risks deeper societal fractures. Advocates urge decisive steps to affirm that faith should never dictate fate.