London: (By Hannah Chowdhry and Juliet Chowdhry) A Christian family of six endured a harrowing ordeal when they were subjected to a shooting incident after politely requesting their Muslim neighbor to lower the volume of his loud music at 1 am. The assailant targeted the mother of the household, shooting her in the abdomen, and one of her sons in the right hand. The attack followed numerous threats from the Muslim tenant, who expressed a desire for the family to vacate the premises, citing their perceived ritual impurity as a source of sin and desecration to the building.

A minor dispute over a request to lower the volume of loud music being played at 1 am escalated tragically when a new tenant, Muhammad Mumtaz Shah, residing on the ground floor of a three-story house in Model Colony No.2, Walton Road, Lahore, attempted murder. The confrontation involved a Christian family residing on the first floor, resulting in critical injuries to Shaheen Bibi (38 years old), a mother, and her 15-year-old son, Numan Masih.

In a fit of rage, Muhammad Mumtaz Shah brandished a firearm, hurling verbal abuse at the Christian family for daring to address the noise issue. His threatening words, “You Chuhra! How dare you mess with me? I will kill you tonight,” preceded the horrifying act. Shah discharged his 12-gauge rifle, causing severe injuries to Shaheen Bibi’s stomach and Numan’s right hand.

Following the attack, After receiving a distress call on 15 from a concerned neighbor, emergency services promptly arrived at the scene of the crime.  Police swiftly apprehended Mumtaz, while Shaheen and Numan were rushed to the hospital for urgent medical care.  Shaheen Bibi underwent surgery in the ICU to remove the bullets, but complications arose, resulting in an abdominal infection. Another surgery was conducted on April 26th to address the issue.

Shehzad Masih has provided an update to the British Asian Christian Association (BACA) regarding the condition of his family. Thankfully, his son Numan’s hand injury is healing, bringing some relief amidst the turmoil. However, his wife Shaheen Bibi continues to undergo treatment at General Hospital Lahore, emphasizing the long road to recovery

Muhammad Mumtaz’s actions led to the filing of an FIR [First Information Report, vide No. 1891/24] against him, under charges of 324 PPC [Pakistan Penal Code], at the Factory Area Police Station on 25th April.

In his statement recorded at the Police Station, Muhammad Mumtaz has attempted to justify his abhorrent actions by citing high blood pressure as the cause. It is deeply troubling that such a heinous act of violence would be excused in this manner. Furthermore, the fact that Muhammad Mumtaz is a Hafiz e Quran, someone entrusted with the memorization of the Quran, adds another layer of distress to this appalling situation.

324.     Attempt to commit qatl-i-amd:

Whoever does any act with such intention or knowledge, and under such circumstances, that, if he by that act caused qatl, he would be guilty of qatl-i-amd, shall be punished with imprisonment for either description for a term which may extend to ten years  129[but shall not be less than five years if the offence has been committed in the name or on the pretext of honour] 129, and shall also be liable to fine, and, if hurt is caused to any person by such act, the offender shall, in addition to the imprisonment and fine as aforesaid, be liable to the punishment provided for the hurt caused:

Provided that where the punishment for the hurt is qisas which is not executable, the offender shall be liable to arsh and may also be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years.

According to Shehzad Masih (40 years old), the husband of Shaheen Bibi, the disturbing incident unfolded after a complaint of loud noise. Muhammad Mumtaz, who had recently moved into the ground floor of the building, frequently caused disturbance with loud music, disrupting the peace for Shehzad’s family. Living alone, Muhammad Mumtaz often indulged in playing music at high volumes, depriving the Shehzad family of much-needed rest. The relentless noise even distressed their youngest daughter, Barkha (2 years old), who was unable to sleep and cried incessantly.

In an attempt to address the situation, Shehzad’s wife went downstairs to request Muhammad Mumtaz to cease his disruptive behavior. However, this simple plea only served to enrage him further, prompting him to brandish his firearm in a fit of fury.

Shehzad Masih (45 years old) shared with BACA that he had rented the first floor of the building seven years ago and had enjoyed a peaceful existence, never causing any disturbances for neighbors or the community. However, the tranquil atmosphere was disrupted when Muhammad Mumtaz moved into the ground floor of the building just a month prior. Since then, Mumtaz had harboured animosity toward Shehzad Masih and his family.

Mumtaz’s animosity stemmed from his desire to exclusively have Muslim tenants on the first floor, believing that Christians, like the Masih family, were somehow impure and their presence tainted the house. Despite Shehzad’s efforts to maintain harmony, Mumtaz’s prejudice fueled tensions between the two families.

“Ever since he took up residence on the ground floor, Muhammad Mumtaz has consistently expressed his preference for the first floor to be leased to a Muslim family. His reasoning stems from his belief that Christians carry impurity, and their mere presence within the household taints its sanctity”, said Shahzad Masih.

Expressing the gravity of the situation, Shehzad Masih revealed the critical condition of his wife, stating that the doctors had informed him of her precarious state. Shehzad Masih’s plea echoes the gravity of the situation: “My wife is in critical condition, as the doctors have informed me. Please keep us in your prayers, as she is scheduled for another operation. The initial surgery to remove the bullets from her stomach has led to complications.”

Since Mumtaz’s arrest, the family has been subjected to a barrage of threats from his relatives and associates. They are now facing pressure to drop the charges in exchange for a compensation payment.

This coercive tactic highlights a troubling aspect of Pakistan’s Qisas and Diyat laws, which permit perpetrators of serious crimes such as murder, rape, and violence to evade justice by offering financial compensation. Such laws undermine the pursuit of true accountability and justice, allowing perpetrators to buy their way out of facing the consequences of their actions. The safety and rights of victims must take precedence over monetary settlements, and the government must take decisive action to ensure that justice is served without compromise.

Shehzad, a welder, and his wife, Shaheen Bibi, who works as a cleaner, are parents to four children: Maheen (17 years old), Numan (15 years old), Anaya (7 years old), and Barkha (2 years old). They have reached out to the British Asian Christian Association for assistance in obtaining legal representation to pursue justice and secure a conviction for Muhammad Mumtaz.

To achieve this, they require £1500 to cover legal expenses. If you’d like to contribute to this cause, you can do so (here).

Juliet Chowdhry, Trustee for British Asian Christian Association, remarked;

“This heinous assault was driven by nothing more than a request for respite from incessant noise.  It serves as a stark reminder of the systemic marginalization and persecution faced by Christians in Pakistani ociety. It is a tragic testament to the insidious nature of discrimination that still persists, where even the simple act of seeking peace within one’s own home can result in such brutal violence.”

“The Government of Pakistan bears an undeniable responsibility to confront and eradicate the deep-seated prejudices that breed such horrific atrocities. However, the recurrent failure of successive regimes to address these issues is a damning indictment of their lack of commitment to instigating meaningful change. It is imperative that we hold these leaders accountable and demand that they take more  decisive action to dismantle the structures of discrimination that perpetuate violence and marginalization against vulnerable communities.”