Christian man mortally wounded in Baluchistan for refusing to convert to Islam

(Feb. 05, 2013) In Pakistan, a young Christian man mortally wounded in the province of Baluchistan, died Monday afternoon after he was shot five times last Thursday, as he made his way home from work. It is believed that 55-year-old Younas Masih was attacked after he resisted pressures from co-workers to convert to Islam. Masih worked for a company in Chaman. Strong in his Christian faith, he was regularly involved in his local parish.
Speaking anonymously, local sources told AsiaNews that Muslim co-workers had began pressuring him to convert but he refused, standing firm in his beliefs in Christ. Last Thursday, his co-workers tried again and a heated discussion followed that included insults and threats. When he went home Masih was attacked by a gunman who fired five bullets into him. He was rushed to the hospital where he eventually died. His son tried to file a First Information Report (FIR) with local police, who refused to register his complaint. Despite repeated attempts, they refused to heed the family's pleas for justice.
Groups like the Masihi Foundation and Life for All, have condemned the murder, and expressed dismay at the lack of action by police and local authorities. Fr James Chand, a priest in Quetta has condemned the killing and demanded protection for the lives and property of minorities in Pakistan.