Source: www.worthynews.com
Date: June 11, 2026
by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Chief International Correspondent
RAWALPINDI, PAKISTAN (Worthy News) – The killing of a 22-year-old Christian man in Pakistan’s Punjab province has sparked grief and renewed concerns about the safety of religious minorities, Christian leaders told Worthy News on Wednesday.
Zain Masih, the son of a Christian widow, was fatally stabbed in the city of Rawalpindi after becoming involved in an altercation with a Muslim man, according to family members and Christian advocates.
Police said they detained a suspect identified as Ghulam Mustafa. Relatives alleged that Mustafa attacked Masih with a dagger, inflicting fatal injuries, and claimed he had harassed the young Christian on previous occasions.
Authorities said they were continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the killing.
CALLS FOR JUSTICE
“Zain’s death has devastated his family and triggered an outpouring of sorrow among Christians across Pakistan,” said Sardar Mushtaq Gill, founder of LEAD Ministries.
He told Worthy News that community leaders, church representatives, and human rights advocates were calling for a transparent investigation and swift legal action.
Pastor Imran Amanat of LEAD Ministries condemned the killing and urged Christians worldwide to pray for Masih’s family and for justice to prevail.
“The loss of a young life in such a brutal manner is heartbreaking,” Amanat told Worthy News.
RELIGIOUS MINORITIES CONCERNED
Christian leaders said the case highlights ongoing concerns about violence, discrimination, and social exclusion faced by Christians and other religious minorities in Pakistan.
Advocates have called for stronger measures to guarantee equal protection, religious freedom, and justice for all citizens regardless of their faith.
Muslim-majority Pakistan ranks eighth on the annual Open Doors World Watch List of countries where it says Christians face the most severe persecution. The ranking cites the misuse of controversial blasphemy laws, forced marriages and conversions of Christian and Hindu girls, discrimination, and attacks against minority communities.
As Christians across Pakistan mourn Masih’s death, church leaders urged prayers for peace, protection, and Christian freedom throughout the troubled nation.