A 28 year old Christian father of four has been murdered in Pakistan.
The Centre for Legal Aid, Assistance and Settlement (CLAAS) says Marshall Masih was attacked in the early hours of July 10.
According to his father, Yaqoob Masih: "Two Muslim boys entered our house from the roof at around 4:20 am. They came in with two unknown accomplices.
"We were all in a deep sleep when they broke in. As soon as they reached us, they started firing at my son from different angles. Despite our cries for help, they kept shooting until my son fell to the ground, fatally wounded. Neighbours arrived after hearing the gunfire and our screams, but the attackers managed to escape."
Marshall was rushed to hospital in Lahore, where he succumbed to his injuries. The grief-stricken Christian community in the area immediately took to the streets in protest, demanding swift justice. They gathered on Mall Road, appealing to the Chief Minister of Punjab for the immediate arrest of the perpetrators.
The protesters claim the assailants were drug dealers who had recently been released from jail.
Marshall was the sole breadwinner of his family and ran a small grocery store from their home, providing for his wife, Mehdi, their one son, and three daughters. The family are members of the Catholic Cathedral Church in Lahore.
This incident has sparked a wider conversation about the safety of religious minorities in Pakistan, with many calling for stronger measures to protect vulnerable communities and ensure justice is served swiftly. No arrests have so far been made.
CLAAS is an interdenominational organization working for Christians who are being persecuted because of their faith in Pakistan.