by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Chief International Correspondent
SARGODHA, PAKISTAN (Worthy News) – Pakistani police have arrested two Muslim suspects in connection with the killing of a young Christian agricultural worker whose death sparked protests in the country’s eastern Punjab province, investigators and Christian advocates said Saturday.
Authorities said Muhammad Mohsin and Basharat Kharl were detained over the killing of Marqas Masih, a Christian laborer found dead earlier this week in the village of Chak No. 36 in the Markabad area of Punjab’s Sargodha district.
Police said evidence and witness testimonies linked the suspects to the crime and that investigations are continuing.
Masih, believed to be about 22 years old, reportedly worked around a farmhouse in the area as an agricultural laborer.
His death triggered protests by relatives and local Christians, who briefly placed his body on a main road while demanding justice, according to footage obtained by Worthy News.
Masih’s funeral on Friday drew hundreds of mourners and renewed calls for justice from local Christians and rights advocates, LEAD Ministries said.
PROTESTS AND CALLS FOR JUSTICE
Amid the pressure, police filed a First Information Report (FIR), a necessary step for launching a formal criminal investigation.
Family members alleged that Masih had been mistreated and tortured before his death, saying they discovered burning marks and other injuries on his body. Some suspects reportedly claimed he had taken his own life.
Human rights lawyer Sardar Mushtaq Gill, founder of advocacy group LEAD Ministries, said the arrests were a key step toward justice, adding that he was likely killed for his faith in Christ.
“We welcome the arrests as an important step toward accountability for Marqas Masih and his family,” LEAD Ministries said in a statement to Worthy News.
However, Christians told Worthy News that some protesters demanding the arrests may face criminal charges related to blocking roads and placing the body of the slain Christian on the street.
Pastor Imran Amanat of LEAD Ministries described the killing as “a grave violation of human rights and religious freedom” and called for a transparent investigation.
MINORITY COMMUNITY AT RISK
Advocates say many Christians in rural Punjab work as low-paid laborers and remain vulnerable to exploitation by powerful landowners.
“This is not an isolated tragedy,” Gill said. “It reflects systemic oppression that leaves minority communities vulnerable and voiceless.”
Human rights groups have urged Pakistani authorities to ensure a thorough forensic investigation and a fair judicial process.
Pakistan ranks 7th on the annual World Watch List compiled by advocacy group Open Doors of countries where Christians face the most severe persecution.
Christians make up roughly 2–3 percent of Pakistan’s population, or about 4–5 million people, according to church and government estimates.
Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.