Family Says Christian Father Died in Police Custody After Hours of Torture

Faith Facts

• A Catholic father of four died within hours of being taken into police custody in Pakistan on what his family says were false kidnapping charges.
• Family members allege police tortured the man to death while attempting to extract a bribe.
• Christians comprise roughly 2% of Pakistan’s population and face systemic discrimination and violence in the Muslim-majority nation.

A Christian family in Pakistan is mourning the loss of a husband and father who they say was tortured to death by police within hours of his detention. The victim, a Catholic man and father of four children, was taken into custody on kidnapping allegations that his family maintains were completely fabricated.

According to family members, the charges against him were baseless from the start. They believe police targeted him as part of an extortion scheme, intending to extract money from the family in exchange for his release.

The family alleges that during his brief time in custody, officers subjected the man to severe physical abuse. His body reportedly showed clear signs of torture when it was returned to his loved ones.

This tragic incident highlights the vulnerable position of religious minorities in Pakistan, where Christians and other non-Muslims frequently face persecution, false accusations, and abuse at the hands of both state and non-state actors. Despite constitutional guarantees of religious freedom, Christians in Pakistan regularly experience discrimination in employment, education, and the justice system.

Pakistan’s blasphemy laws are often weaponized against Christians and other minorities, with mere accusations—whether true or false—leading to mob violence, extrajudicial killings, or lengthy imprisonment. While this case involves kidnapping charges rather than blasphemy, it reflects a broader pattern of injustice faced by the Christian community.

The family is calling for accountability and justice for their loved one’s death. They want an independent investigation into the circumstances of his detention and the treatment he received while in police custody.

Human rights organizations have long documented abuses against religious minorities in Pakistan, including forced conversions, kidnappings of Christian girls, and violence against churches and Christian communities. The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom has repeatedly recommended that Pakistan be designated a Country of Particular Concern due to severe violations of religious freedom.

For this grieving family, no investigation or punishment of the officers involved can bring back a beloved husband and father. But they continue to seek justice, hoping that holding perpetrators accountable might prevent similar tragedies from befalling other Christian families in Pakistan.

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