Archive · 10 Oct 2026
Christian Families Flee Pakistan Village After Mob Burns Buildings
More than 35 Christian families left their homes in a village in Pakistan.
They were afraid after a crowd set fire to a man’s house and shop.
The man, Kamran Masih, had been arrested after people accused him of sharing a video they considered blasphemous.
The fire happened the next day, while people were gathered outside his buildings.
Police said they sent officers to protect the Christian residents and their property.
They also said they were investigating.
The report says it is not clear which part of the blasphemy law was used against Masih.
Officials have also told a Senate committee that many recent blasphemy cases were false.
More than 35 Christian families fled Gharial Kalan village in Punjab after a mob set fire to a Christian man’s home and shop.
Police arrested Kamran Masih on Thursday night after Muslims accused him of sharing a blasphemous video in WhatsApp groups.
The arson took place on Friday as dozens gathered outside Masih’s shop and adjacent home.
Police said personnel were deployed to protect Christian residents and property, and that the investigation was ongoing.
The report noted wider concerns that Pakistan’s blasphemy laws are misused; officials recently told a Senate committee that most of 333 cases lodged across four provinces in five years were false.
- Who
- Kamran Masih, more than 35 Christian families, a Muslim crowd, and local police.
- What
- Families fled after a crowd set fire to Masih’s home and shop following blasphemy accusations against him.
- When
- Masih was arrested on Thursday night; the buildings were set on fire on Friday.
- Where
- Gharial Kalan village, Sheikhupura district, Punjab province, Pakistan.
- Why
- Masih was accused of sharing a blasphemous video in WhatsApp groups; families fled fearing further violence.
- Families displaced
- More than 35 Christian families
- Accused man
- Kamran Masih, a 40-year-old father of three who ran a small pharmacy
- Incident location
- Gharial Kalan village, Sheikhupura district, Punjab, Pakistan
- Arson
- A crowd set fire to Masih’s shop and adjacent home on Friday
- Police response
- Police personnel were deployed to safeguard Christian residents and their property; the investigation was underway
- Reported cases
- Officials told a Senate committee that 333 blasphemy cases were lodged across Pakistan’s four provinces over five years, and that most were false
- Legal detail
- The report said it was unclear which provisions of the blasphemy laws had been invoked against Masih