Punjab Christian burned alive dies,
Christian community calls for justice
by Fareed Khan
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, March 23 (AsiaNews) - Arshed Masih died last night in hospital from the serious injuries - burns covering 80% of his body – which the 38-year-old Pakistani Christian suffered when he was set on fire because he refused to convert to Islam.
He died after three days of agony. His funeral would have taken place in in the late afternoon today, but the family has asked that "an autopsy is performed."
The Christian community of Pakistan condemns "with firmness" the latest episode of violence and denounces the "slowness" of the federal and provincial government to punish those responsible.
On March 19 a group of Islamic extremists burned Arshed alive. He was a driver employed by a wealthy Muslim businessman in Rawalpindi since 2005. His wife worked as a maid in the same estate, situated in front of a police station.
Recently disagreements had arisen between the employer, Sheikh Mohammad Sultan, and the couple because of their Christian faith. The couple suffered threats and intimidation to force them to convert to Islam.
Arshed Masih died last night at 7.45 local time after three days of agony and suffering at the Holy Family Hospital in Rawalpindi, Punjab province. His wife Martha Arshed was raped by police en she sought to denounce the violence inflicted on her husband. The couple's three children - ages 7 to 12 years - were forced "to witness the torture inflicted on their parents.
The pressure on the victim and his wife to renounce Christianity had lately become incessant, with their employer threatnening "dire consequences" unless they embrace Isladm. The couple were also accused of a recent theft by the employer who then said he would drop the complaint if they converted.
Several Christian associations and human rights activists - including Life for All, Christian Progressive Movement, Pakistan Christian Congress and Protect Foundation Pakistan - have organized protests.
Peter Jacob, executive secretary of the Justice and Peace Commission of the Catholic Church of Pakistan (NCJP), expressed to AsiaNews his "strongest condemnation" for the killing of the driver and for the rape of his wife.
The Catholic activist notes with regret the silence of the Federal Minister for Minorities, Shahbaz Bhatti, a Catholic, and denounces "the slow pace and the inaction of the federal and provincial government.
"The executive," said Peter Jacob, "has not yet taken concrete steps to prevent violence and abuse on minorities and punish the guilty."
A news site, BosNewsLife.com, adds that yesterday the provincial government of Punjab blocked a protest march of Christians, under the pretext of "terrorist threat". The Christians wanted to demonstrate against the "refusal" of the police to arrest the perpetrators of the crime.
I was in the middle of making this post last night when the technical glitch occurred - I assume everyone experienced it - and I've only just been able to access the Forum again.