From BosNewsLife, with thanks to Nicolei:
LAHORE, PAKISTAN (BosNewsLife/ANS) — Another Christian has died in Pakistan as a result of severe torture at the hands of the police, a Christian human rights group said Monday, September 6. Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) said that Nasir Masih, 26, was arrested on “false charges of theft” on August 16, and died three days later after sustaining 20 injuries. It was the third murder of a Pakistani Christian this year, and the second carried out by police, CSW claimed.
His father, Mukhtar Masih, said the troubles began when Nasir was taken from his home in Baldia, Siekhupura, 45 kilometres (apr. 28 miles) from Lahore, by a group of Muslims, CSW reported. “A few hours later his family was informed by the police that he had been arrested and charged with theft. The accusation had been made by one of the group which took Nasir from his home.” said CSW, a human rights charity working on behalf of those persecuted for their Christian beliefs.
“This is a conspiracy based on religious enmity to kill my son,” Mukhtar Masih reportedly told the All Pakistan Minorities Alliance. “My son cannot have been involved in any theft.”
A case has been registered against ten people, including six policemen, for allegedly torturing Nasir Masih to death, during his detention on the orders of the District Police Officer Shahid Iqbal. No arrests have yet been made. “I will knock on every door to get justice for my son,” CSW qouted Mukhtar Masih as saying.
POLICE BEATINGS
“Nasir’s murder,” said a CSW spokesperson “follows the deaths in May this year of Samuel Masih and Javed Anjum. Samuel Masih, charged under the blasphemy law, was beaten by a police officer while he lay in a hospital suffering from tuberculosis. Javed Anjum was tortured to death by Muslims from a madrassah (Islamic school).