A Christian man in his seventies succumbed to his injuries on Monday, more than a week after being lynched by a mob over alleged blasphemy, officials reported.
Nazir Masih, the victim, passed away this morning at the Combined Military Hospital in Rawalpindi, where he had been receiving treatment for nine days, according to a spokesperson for Regional Police Officer (RPO) Sharik Kamal Siddiqui. Despite undergoing two surgeries, Masih did not recover from the severe head injuries inflicted during the attack. His postmortem has been completed, and he will be buried later today.
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The incident occurred on May 25 in Sargodha, where a mob violently assaulted Masih following accusations of blasphemy. The situation escalated as the mob attacked Masih’s home in the Mujahid Colony, destroying his belongings and setting fire to a shoe factory located within the property. They also burned tires and damaged electricity installations in the area.
In response, the police detained at least 25 individuals and relocated Masih and his family to an undisclosed location for their safety.
Sargodha Division Commissioner Muhammad Ajmal Bhatti assured that a transparent investigation would be conducted to ensure those responsible for the incident are brought to justice. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) also voiced concerns about the situation in Sargodha, urging the Punjab Police and district administration to swiftly prosecute the perpetrators.
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