In the heart of Pakistan’s Punjab province, in a small area called Raja Jang, Kasur, a story of faith, poverty, and persecution continues to unfold. Pastor Badal Masih, a humble brick kiln worker and Christian pastor, is facing unimaginable pressure — to deny his faith and embrace another religion in exchange for financial relief. 

Like many impoverished families in Pakistan’s brick kiln industry, Pastor Badal works long, exhausting hours to repay a debt that seems never to end. Yet his situation has become even more dire after he stood as a guarantor for another Christian worker, Shahzad Masih, who labors at a kiln owned by Muhammad Babar Bhatti. According to reports, Bhatti is now demanding either repayment of an inflated sum — PKR 550,000 — or that Pastor Badal convert to Islam, in which case the debt would be forgiven. 

This heartbreaking choice — between faith and survival — is one faced by many of Pakistan’s Christian bonded laborers. Despite the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act of 1992, the practice remains common, trapping thousands of Christian families in a cycle of poverty, exploitation, and servitude. For them, debt is not just an economic burden; it is a tool of control that often comes with threats, abuse, and now, even demands for conversion. 

Human rights advocate Sardar Mushtaq Gill, founder of LEAD Ministries, has spoken out strongly against these injustices. “This is not an isolated incident,” he said. “There are numerous cases where Christians are forced or pressured to convert to Islam under the promise that their debts will be forgiven. This is both religious coercion and modern-day slavery.” 

Pastor Imran Amanat, leader of LEAD Ministries, has also urged the Christian community to unite and support those trapped in such conditions. He said, “We request our brothers and sisters to stand with us so that we can help free our Christian bonded laborers from forced conversions and slavery. Together, we can bring them hope and freedom.” 

The situation of Pastor Badal is not only a matter of religious freedom but also a reflection of the deep inequalities that persist in Pakistan’s labor system. Christians, who make up less than 2% of the population, are often found in the lowest-paid, most exploitative jobs — including brick kilns, sanitation, and domestic work. Their economic vulnerability makes them easy targets for coercion. 

Yet, amid this suffering, there are also voices of courage and faith. Organizations like LEAD Ministries continue to fight for justice, seeking partners and donors to help pay off the debts of these enslaved families and secure their freedom. 

Pastor Badal’s story is a painful reminder that faith, for many, comes at a cost. But it also calls the world to action — to speak for those who cannot speak for themselves and to stand against the forces that use poverty and religion as weapons of oppression.