Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Lahore (Agenzia Fides) – In the Punjab region of Pakistan, life is becoming more difficult for the Christian minorities. According to reports sent to Fides from the Christian organization "Life for All,” which operates in the territory with projects for the promotion and social development of minorities, a young Christian age 37, Mukhityar Masih, died of a heart attack following serious threats and harassment he suffered from a group of militant Muslims who broke into his home.
The case, says Xavier Williams, Vice-President of Life for All,” occurred in Youhanabad, near Lahore, where, about 12 years ago, Mukhityar Masih signed a contract for a piece of land from a rich local Muslim landowner, Shafi Mayo. The contract provided that, after ten years of rent and sharecropping, the land would have be payed off by Masih and now finally be his own.
At the end of the decade, Masih asked for the implementation of the contract, but the owner postponed the sale for about two years. At this, the young man went to the police and launched a legal action.
The reaction was swift: Sunday, March 7th, a group of about 20 armed men raided Masih's house and threatened to kill him and his family. In the event, the young man was seized by a heart attack and died.
"We are close to the family of the victim and are seeking justice," Xavier Willimas told Fides, who emphasized that "incidents of this nature, against minority communities, are becoming more and more common on a daily basis in Punjab." (PA) (Agenzia Fides 11/3/2010)
