A young Pakistani Chrisitan student has been brutally beaten to death by a Muslim classmate.
Sharoon Masih was killed by Ahmed Raza, at MC Model Boys Government High School Burewala, District Vehari, southern Punjab on August 30, 2017.

He was the lone Christian student of 9th grade and had recently joined the school. On the day he was killed he was on his way to school at about 11: 30 a.m to submit his admission form.

Raza blocked his way to the office. After some heated arguments between the two Sharoon asked him to move out of his way, but Ahmed refused.

While crossing his legs, one of Sharoon’s feet touched Ahmed’s legs. Ahmed flared up with anger and punched him in the head.

Sharoon fell unconscious to the ground, but Ahmed kept beating him. The students and teachers stood watching the whole incident but nobody helped.

When Sharoon did not react in return and was still unconscious, he was taken to hospital but doctors confirmed his death half an hour before he arrived at the hospital.

After his death local Christian leaders were informed about the incident and they immediately reported it to the local police. The concerned Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) along with police officials arrived at the scene and took the body into police custody for a post mortem examination.

Later a murder case was registered against Ahmed Raza and one unknown person. Raza is in police custody whereas the unknown co-accused person has not been arrested.

The local Christian community headed by local counselor Mr. Shamoun Masih, Pastor Haleem and Rehmat Masih Gill from Sahiwal protested against the brutal killing of the innocent young Christian student. The case is still under police investigation and CLAAS will provide legal assistance in this case.
Although anti-Christian violence is common in the Muslim nation, the youthfulness of the mob, in this case, marks an ugly first for the country.

Sharoon’s mother Razia Bibi, she has doubts that they will get justice and that he is a great loss as he was going to be look after her in her old age.

CLAAS’s team has personally visited the family and have offered them free legal aid to help get justice.
The killing of Sharoon is another example of hatred against Christians in Pakistan, which they face in their everyday life regardless of age and gender, they feel insecure and live in fear for their lives.

Recently the Pakistani Senate passed a bill making it compulsory for Muslim students from class 1 to 12 in all educational institutions to be taught the Holy Quran. This will not just further the gap between Muslim and non-Muslim students, but it promotes hatred against non-Muslim student. Also, it will not just increase extremism in the country, but will also increase the persecution of non-Muslims in the country.