Faisalabad, Pakistan: Human Rights Focus Pakistan (HRFP) strongly condemns the recent incidents of human rights violations, particularly those involving religion and belief, turn up against religious minorities in Pakistan.

HRFP’s Fact-Finding Team has documented a troubling pattern of targeted violence, discrimination, harassment, and persecution against members of religious minority communities. The findings point to serious concerns regarding the protection of vulnerable communities, accountability for alleged perpetrators, and the effective implementation of laws protecting fundamental human rights.

During fact-finding missions in multiple cities, HRFP representatives met with victims and their families, police officials, community stakeholders, neighbors, witnesses, medical personnel, and other relevant individuals. The team collected testimonies and information concerning incidents involving physical violence, murder, harassment, alleged forced conversion and forced marriage, discrimination, and the alleged misuse of religious sensitivities and laws.

Naveed Walter, President of Human Rights Focus Pakistan, said: “The most recent series of incidents involving religious victimization should serve as an eye-opener for all of us. These cases demonstrate the urgent need to strengthen the protection of religious minorities, ensure accountability, and prevent discrimination and violence. HRFP’s fact-finding missions have documented the information directly from victims, families, witnesses, officials, and other stakeholders. We call upon the authorities to ensure impartial investigations and justice for every victim, regardless of religious identity.”

Naveed Walter said, “Justice cannot depend on a person’s religion, social status, or occupation. Every victim deserves protection, every allegation deserves a lawful investigation, and every perpetrator proven responsible must face justice. HRFP will continue documenting human rights violations and raising the voices of vulnerable communities until meaningful protection, assistance, advocacy, justice and accountability are ensured”., he added.

According to facts gathered by the HRFP Fact-Finding Team, Ikhlaq Masih, a Christian, a cook from Ajnianwala Tehsil of District Sheikhupura, was physically assaulted on August 16, 2026. HRFP learned that Ikhlaq Masih had intervened after witnessing a man identified as Ali Shah harassing a Christian woman, Robina Masih. According to Ikhlaq’s narrative, after he asked Ali Shah to stop the harassment, Ali Shah returned with other individuals who allegedly subjected Ikhlaq to physical violence. Two Christian men, Shahzad and Sabir, witnessed the incident and intervened before contacting police, Ikhlaq sustained injuries. Ikhlaq Masih told HRFP that individuals had previously entered the Christian colony and harassed Christian women, with concerns also raised regarding abductions, forced conversions and forced marriages. A First Information Report (FIR) was subsequently registered following a complaint by Saleem Masih, Ikhlaq’s father.

HRFP has been informed that the alleged perpetrators have not been arrested. HRFP calls upon law-enforcement authorities to conduct a fair and impartial investigation and ensure that those responsible, and guilty, are brought to justice.

HRFP Fact Findings team also documented the case of Arshad Masih, a Christian sanitary worker of district Sheikhupura, suffered serious injuries during a dispute concerning working conditions. According to information collected by HRFP team visiting victim and family on the ground, that on July 19, 2026, Arshad Masih and other Christian sanitary workers protested over unpaid salaries and the lack of hygiene and protective equipment required for their work. The workers faced bias by department and police intervention following the protest. HRFP got that Arshad Masih was subjected to physical mistreatment while in police custody, resulting in a fractured arm. He was subsequently removed from his employment. According to his family, when Arshad Masih and his coworkers attempted to submit a complaint concerning the alleged police violence and conduct of the supervisor, their application was not accepted.

HRFP is particularly concerned about the alleged discriminatory treatment of Christian sanitary workers and calls for appropriate action to address the reported injuries, terminations of employment, unsafe working conditions including the lack of adequate hygiene equipment and the conduct of the officials concerned.

HRFP’s Fact-Finding Team also documented the murder of Shahzaib Masih, a Christian hairdresser in Islamabad. According to information gathered by HRFP, on August 4, 2026, Shahzaib Masih was standing outside his hair salon near his residence when a coworker identified as Sajwal, along with coworker, approached him and shot him. Shahzaib sustained critical injuries and was transported to a nearby hospital for emergency treatment, where he subsequently died. The perpetrators left the scene before police arrived. His body was taken to Polyclinic Hospital for post-mortem examination. Following a written complaint submitted by his wife, Samaria Bibi, together with his mother, Parveen Bibi, police registered an FIR under Sections 302/34 of the Pakistan Penal Code.

HRFP calls upon investigators to ensure transparent, impartial, and timely proceedings to provide justice and protection to Shahzaib Masih’s family as they still face threats to step back.

HRFP has also received evidence of false accusations while Fact Findings on the ground, concerning an incident reported to police regarding an individual identified as Samuel Arif, who was allegedly involved in an encounter with girls in the Punjab University Staff Colony on August 28, 2026. According to the complaint submitted to the local Police Station of Lahore, the individual allegedly approached young girls, made statements concerning the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), and allegedly made remarks concerning Islamic religious figures and marriage. The complainant further alleges that he followed the girls toward their residence and entered the staff colony.

HRFP stresses that allegations concerning religiously sensitive conduct must be addressed through lawful, impartial, and evidence-based investigation. At the same time, allegations should not be used as a basis for vigilant violence, threats, or collective punishment against any individual or religious community as it has been practiced in such cases many times.

Human Rights Focus Pakistan urges the Government of Pakistan, provincial authorities, police departments, and relevant institutions to take immediate measures to protect religious minorities and other vulnerable communities. HRFP calls on Pakistan to ensure fair, transparent investigations and equal protection under the law for all religious communities. It urges authorities to hold perpetrators accountable through due process, protect victims and witnesses, safeguard religious minorities and their places of worship, and investigate police abuse or discrimination. HRFP also stresses stronger action against forced conversions, forced marriages, abductions, and violence, especially against vulnerable women and girls particularly the Christian and Hindu girls who are the easier targets. It further calls for preventing the misuse of blasphemy and other religion-related laws and rejecting mob or vigilante justice. HRFP emphasizes state’s duty to uphold the dignity, security, equality, and fundamental freedoms of every person under its constitutional and international human rights obligations.