Minority Concern has strongly condemned the death of Marcus Masih, a 21-year-old Christian labourer who died under suspicious circumstances in Sargodha, Punjab, Pakistan, on March 4, 2026. The organisation has called for an immediate, transparent, and impartial investigation, as well as justice for his family.
Two weeks after the incident, police have yet to file a challan in court.
On March 10, Christian legislator Falbous Christopher, a Member of the Punjab Assembly (MPA) and Chairman of the Standing Committee on Human Rights and Minority Affairs, submitted a resolution in the Punjab Assembly requesting that the matter be debated on the floor of the House.
Christian Member of the National Assembly Naveed Aamir Jeeva also plans to submit a separate resolution regarding Masih’s death in the National Assembly in Islamabad.
Masih came from a poor family and had been working at the stable of a Muslim landlord for nearly four years. According to his family, he was routinely mistreated, tortured, and subjected to derogatory remarks. They allege that he was murdered, while his employer claims that Masih died by suicide.
Dilshad Masih, the victim’s elder brother, who works as a sweeper in Sargodha city, said that Marcus Masih’s working conditions were extremely harsh. The owner allegedly never paid him wages and did not allow him to visit his family.
“He worked at the stable almost 24/7,” Dilshad Masih said.
“The family has shown great courage in standing up for justice. Despite their poverty, they are determined to pursue the case against powerful individuals,” said Sanwar Balam, a Christian lawyer from Sargodha.
Masih was reportedly killed at his workplace in Chak No. 36 South, near Sargodha city, on March 4. According to the family, the employer did not initially inform them about his death but instead came to collect Masih’s mother and brother without explanation.
“When we asked the landlord’s family members what the issue was, they said Basharat, the head of the landlord’s family, just wanted to see us and that there was nothing serious,” Dilshad Masih said.
When the family arrived at the village, they saw police officers present. They were taken to the stable, where they found Masih’s body hanging from the ceiling.
“Only then did we come to know what had happened. They told us he had committed suicide inside the stable where he worked. My mother started crying and I fainted,” he said.
Police conducted an autopsy quickly in the absence of Masih’s family and later handed over the body, which remained at home overnight. The next morning, while preparing the body for the funeral, family members noticed visible injuries, including bruises and burn marks.
“These injuries showed he had been severely tortured,” the family alleged, claiming that Masih had been tortured and murdered by his employers. The death sparked anger among the local Christian community. Protesters placed the body on a roadside during a demonstration, demanding justice and the immediate arrest of those responsible.
However, police filed cases against several Christians for allegedly obstructing traffic during the protest.
Later, a Christian delegation led by local political activist Tahir Naveed Chaudhary Advocate, met with police officials. As tensions escalated, police registered a First Information Report (FIR) under Section 302 of the Pakistan Penal Code against two members of the farm owner’s family, who are the main suspects.
“Police arrested the suspects due to constant pressure from the Christian community, but have not produced to court yet.” Dilshad said. “The case against Christians has not yet been withdrawn,” said Balam.
Chaudhary said, “We are also trying to pressure the police to withdraw the cases against Christian protesters,”
Christian leaders have also expressed concern over the treatment of poor Christian workers, particularly those employed by Muslim landlords. Naveed Walter, President of Human Rights Focus Pakistan, said that Masih’s death highlights the continuing vulnerability of religious minorities in Pakistan.