Kasur, Pakistan — In a deeply disturbing incident highlighting the ongoing plight of religious minorities in Pakistan, a Christian bonded labor family has reportedly been brutally tortured and threatened with death in the Village Pahlo area of Kasur District, Punjab.
Another Christian bonded laborer, Shehbaz Masih, and his wife were physically assaulted by Muhammad Arif, a brick kiln owner, for not working a few days due to illness. The couple was reportedly threatened repeatedly, with Arif saying: “Give us our money, otherwise we will kill you.” Shehbaz Masih, a father of four children, is already battling a serious respiratory illness, making this violent attack particularly alarming.
The incident has been condemned by LEAD Ministries, a Christian human rights organization. Pastor Imran Amanat, a leader of the ministry, called for urgent prayers and support for the family. He said, “Such acts of violence have become a daily reality for Christians in Pakistan. Families live in fear, and perpetrators act with complete impunity because the law fails to protect the most vulnerable.”
Sardar Mushtaq Gill, founder of LEAD Ministries, strongly criticized the systemic abuse faced by Christian laborers. He explained that religious discrimination combined with extreme poverty allows some brick kiln owners to treat Christian workers as virtual slaves. “These families are beaten, threatened, and silenced simply because of their faith and social status,” Gill said.
Bonded labor in Pakistan’s brick kilns has long been a focus of human rights concern. Christian families are disproportionately affected, trapped in cycles of debt and abuse, with little access to justice or legal recourse. Despite laws prohibiting forced labor, enforcement remains weak, and exploitation continues largely unchecked.
Human rights advocates are urging both local authorities and the international community to take action to protect Christian laborers, ensure accountability, and end the culture of impunity. The case of Shehbaz Masih and his family is a stark reminder that faith and poverty should never justify abuse or oppression.
As this family struggles to survive amid ongoing threats, LEAD Ministries is calling on churches, human rights groups, and concerned citizens worldwide to raise their voices, offer prayers, and demand justice.
LEAD Ministries is an advocacy organization dedicated to documenting Christian persecution and acts of violence against Christians in Pakistan and around the world, raising awareness among policymakers and authorities to take action for such victims. The ministry is actively seeking prayer and support for its ongoing work to defend the persecuted and promote global awareness of Christian suffering.
“Christians in Pakistan need more than sympathy—they need protection, justice, and freedom from fear,” Pastor Amanat emphasized. “It is our responsibility to stand with them and shine a light on these atrocities.”


