A bonded Christian worker in Pakistan faces a long road to recovery following a near-fatal arson attack by a colleague enraged over religious taunts. Occurring in Punjab’s Bahawalpur district, the January 21 incident has drawn sharp condemnation from minority rights defenders, spotlighting the endemic risks to Pakistan’s Christian population.
Zahid Masih, employed as a security guard, endured weeks of offensive comments from Mohammad Ali Azhar, who escalated to blasphemy accusations. Masih’s objection triggered the assault: Azhar splashed petrol across his face and lit it aflame, reportedly shouting anti-Christian vitriol and claims of doctrinal supremacy.
Community members’ swift action extinguished the flames, sparing Masih’s life amid grievous injuries. VOPM decried the event as emblematic of broader oppression in labor sectors, where minorities suffer discrimination, wage theft, and physical threats.
The attack has amplified anxiety within Christian circles, fueling calls for governmental intervention. Advocacy groups insist on rigorous investigations, hate speech prosecutions, and minority quotas in protective legislation. Legal scholars push for reforms like specialized courts for religious crimes and mandatory diversity protocols in employment.
Monitoring Masih’s ongoing medical care, VOPM warns that without sweeping changes—encompassing social awareness drives and policy overhauls—such violence will persist. This case compels Pakistan to reaffirm its commitment to pluralism, ensuring no citizen lives under the shadow of religiously motivated terror.