A Catholic suffered severe burn injuries after a Muslim neighbor allegedly doused him with petrol and set him on fire following a minor dispute, his attorney said.
Zahid Morris, 36, a father of two and a resident of Bahawalpur city in Punjab Province, was attacked on Jan. 21 while on his way to buy chicken from a nearby market, said Christian attorney Lazar Allah Rakha.
“The assailant, Ali Azhar, stopped Morris on the street, verbally abused him, poured petrol over his body, and ignited it,” Rakha told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News. “Morris sustained extensive burn injuries to his face and neck, leaving him in unimaginable physical pain and deep emotional trauma.”
The attack was “shockingly disproportionate” to the dispute, which stemmed from a trivial incident a week earlier when Morris had questioned Azhar about staring at him, Rakha said.
Morris worked as a helper at a local jewelry shop and is the sole breadwinner for his family. The assault has left him unable to work and has plunged his family into severe financial hardship, in addition to the psychological trauma they are experiencing, he added.
Police arrested Azhar shortly after the incident and registered a case against him under Section 324 of the Pakistan Penal Code, which pertains to attempted murder and carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. Rakha said the prosecution intends to seek additional charges once Morris’s medical report is completed.
“We will file an application to add sections related to terrorism and the burning of a human body, specifically Section 336 of the penal code, which prescribes life imprisonment or a minimum of 14 years in jail along with a fine of 1 million Pakistani rupees,” Rakha said.
The attorney further said that Azhar previously had attacked and injured two other Christians in the area but faced no legal consequences.
“Those victims did not pursue legal action, which appears to have emboldened him,” Rakha said. “He showed no hesitation before attempting to burn Morris alive.”
Human rights advocates say the case highlights broader patterns of violence and discrimination faced by Pakistan’s Christian minority, which makes up an estimated 1.8 percent of the country’s population. Christians are disproportionately represented among low-income and sanitation-sector jobs and frequently report harassment, mob violence and difficulties accessing justice in Pakistan’s Muslim-majority society.
In recent years, several high-profile cases have underscored these concerns.
On May 12, Christian laborer Kashif Masih was tortured to death by a group of Muslims, including a former police officer, over an unproven theft allegation. The killing sparked outrage among minority rights groups, who criticized authorities for failing to prevent or promptly prosecute such crimes.
Similarly, on March 21, a Christian factory worker, Waqas Masih, was severely injured after a Muslim coworker slit his throat over accusations of blasphemy. The attacker claimed that Masih had touched an Islamic textbook “with unclean hands,” an allegation that rights activists said reflected the misuse of religious sensitivities to justify violence.
In another incident, on Feb. 27 Christian laborer Wasif George was abducted by Muslim landowners, humiliated and paraded on a donkey after being accused of stealing wood. Images and videos of the assault circulated widely on social media, prompting condemnation but limited legal accountability.
Earlier, on June 6, 2024, 18-year-old Catholic worker Waqas Salamat died after being tortured by his Muslim employer and others for allegedly leaving his job without permission. His family said he was subjected to hours of electric shocks, resulting in fatal injuries.
Legal experts and minority advocates argue that while Pakistan’s constitution guarantees equality for all citizens, implementation remains inconsistent.
“Until attacks against minorities are investigated impartially and prosecuted rigorously, such violence will continue,” Rakha said, calling for stronger legal safeguards and accountability mechanisms.
International watchdogs continue to rank Pakistan among the most difficult countries for Christians. The country again ranked eighth on Open Doors’ 2026 World Watch List, which assesses persecution faced by Christians worldwide. The report cited systemic discrimination, mob violence, forced conversions, bonded labor, and gender-based abuses, noting that perpetrators often act with impunity due to weak law enforcement and social pressures.
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