On 6 September, a Catholic pilgrim was shot dead while traveling to the National Marian Shrine in Mariamabad, about 30 kilometres from Sheikhupura city in Punjab province, Pakistan.
This is the largest Marian shrine in the country, attracting thousands of people from across Pakistan who come to pay their respects to the Blessed Virgin Mary throughout the year. The annual religious celebrations take place in September and are considered the most significant Christian gathering in the country, drawing tens of thousands of pilgrims.
To ensure the event remained safe and peaceful, the Catholic Church made all necessary arrangements, with over 3,000 police officers and volunteers deployed for security. The festival is locally known as Mela Maqaddasa Mariam (Gathering of the Holy Mary). This year, the Mela was held from 5 to 7 September.
Afzal Masih, 42, was travelling in a van with 14 other pilgrims — including men, women, and children — from Lahore when he was murdered by unknown assailants.
Shahzad Francis, a Catholic poet from Khanewal, about 300 kilometres from the shrine said, “The Mela is the largest annual Christian gathering in the country. This year, about 50,000 people attended with the same enthusiasm and devotion as in previous years.
“On my way to Mariamabad, I saw thousands of cars and people walking towards the shrine,” added Francis, who had composed two hymns for a Mass during the event.
Masih, father of four, was a rickshaw driver from the Christian locality of Samanabad in Lahore — Pakistan’s second-largest city, about 100 kilometres from the shrine. “On the way to Mariamabad, their van developed a brake problem, so they stopped at a repair shop, Riaz Autos, to fix it,” said Yaqub Rufin, a Catholic from Mariamabad, said, “Masih was murdered just 9 kilometres from the shrine.”
According to eyewitnesses, the group had exited the van and were standing outside while the mechanic worked. Masih was sitting on a charpai (traditional woven bed) when two men arrived on a motorcycle and opened fire. A bullet struck Masih in the neck.
His companions called the Rescue Service, which failed to respond. They then contacted the police, who arrived at the scene and took him to the hospital. Unfortunately, Masih died before reaching medical care.
Masih came from a poor Christian family and was the sole breadwinner. His funeral was held in Lahore.
The suspected killer has been identified as Muhammad Waqas, a Muslim. Although police have filed a First Information Report (FIR), the suspect remains at large. The manhunt is ongoing.
So far, the motive behind the killing remains unclear. The police have launched an investigation, but it is still inconclusive. However, local Christians are expressing concern over why authorities are not treating the incident as a potential terrorist attack.
The National Marian Shrine is located in Mariamabad, a Catholic village named after the Virgin Mary. The village was founded by Catholic missionaries in 1893 while the annual pilgrimage began in 1949. Over the decades, the site has become a national shrine and spiritual hub for Christians in Pakistan. Millions of Christians, especially Catholics, long to visit Mariamabad as a deeply devotional journey to honour the Virgin Mary.
“I have been coming to Mariamabad continuously for the past 20 years, and each time I return with renewed spiritual strength,” Shahzad Francis shared. “There is a special spirituality in expressing devotion and offering prayers in the presence of thousands. Visiting Mariamabad always strengthens my faith.”