Sheikhupura: A 28-year-old Christian worker, Asif Masih, tragically died after allegedly being subjected to brutal torture by a group of men associated with a local landlord in the village of Saho Ki Malian, within the jurisdiction of the Housing Colony Police Station in Sheikhupura.

According to the First Information Report (FIR) filed by Mushtaq Ahmad, Asif had been employed at his farm for the past year. On the night between April 29 and 30, Asif was assigned to work on a thresher machine along with a colleague, Irfan Dogar. The incident reportedly occurred early the next morning as the two men were returning to the village.

Near the agricultural tube well of Ashfaq Dogar, they were intercepted by a group of men identified in the FIR as Imran, Naseer, Gharib Alam, Allah Yar, Sufiyan, and two unidentified individuals. Imran allegedly accused Asif of deliberately letting cattle into their fields and ordered the group to seize him. When Irfan attempted to intervene, he was reportedly threatened with death.

Witnesses stated that the assailants brutally assaulted Asif. Though some villagers working nearby heard the commotion and gathered at the scene, none intervened due to fear of reprisal. Asif was found severely injured and was rushed to the District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital in Sheikhupura, where he remained under treatment until he succumbed to his injuries on May 5.

Police have registered a case under sections 302 (murder), 147 (rioting), and 149 (unlawful assembly) of the Pakistan Penal Code. The investigation has been assigned to officer Ali Raza (1491/C), while the local Station House Officer (SHO) has also been informed.

Asif Masih’s funeral was held on 7th April was laid to rest in the local Christian cemetery. Funeral was attend by the large number of community members condemned the killing of innocent Asif Masih and demand the swift justice.

Edge foundation team in touch with the family since and expressed their grief on killing of Asif Maish, also attend the funeral.  Team member still in touch with family and have offered legal aid.

Azhar S. Malik, Coordinator of The Edge Foundation, met with the grieving family of Asif Masih and expressed deep sorrow over the tragic loss. He prayed with the family for strength, peace, and justice during this difficult time. Malik condemned the incident, calling it a deeply unfortunate and shameful act in which a young Christian man lost his life over petty and baseless accusations.

He stated, “The lives of Christians in rural areas are often treated as worthless. Over the past few years, we have documented several such incidents where Christian workers have been targeted and killed under false pretences.” Malik recalled a similar case in the same region where a Christian man, Shahid Masih — a father of six children — was brutally killed by his Muslim landlord over allegations of goats theft. “Later investigations confirmed Shahid's innocence, yet his life was taken without accountability,” he added.

Malik called on the authorities to ensure that those responsible for Asif Masih’s death are arrested and brought to justice swiftly, stressing that recurring incidents like these reflect a dangerous pattern of impunity and religiously motivated violence.

He also expressed concern that the FIR was registered not by a member of Asif’s family, but by his employer. He further stated that all those named in the FIR must be arrested immediately and held accountable under the law.

The Sheikhupura police spokesperson confirmed that investigations are ongoing and vowed that no one involved in the incident would be spared.