Pakistani police have arrested a former police inspector after the death of a 35-year-old Christian labourer, Kashif Masih, who was allegedly tortured in Jamkay Cheema, Sialkot.

According to Kashif’s brother, Riyasat Masih, Kashif had worked for three years for Malik Irfan, the suspect now in custody.

Riyasat reported that on the night of 11th May, Kashif was taken by Irfan and not seen again until the early hours of the following day, when two of Irfan’s relatives entered the Masih family home accusing Kashif of stealing a mobile phone. “They ransacked every corner of the house looking for the phone but found nothing. What they did not disclose was that Kashif had already been in their custody since the evening of 11th May,” said Riyasat.

Neighbours later informed the family that Kashif had been found near Rahat Bakery, barely conscious and severely injured. “We found him barely conscious, his body severely bruised and bleeding from multiple wounds. He died shortly after we brought him home,” Riyasat said.

Before his death, Kashif told his brother that Irfan had summoned him to his outhouse, accused him of theft and ordered seven men to beat him until he confessed. The attackers reportedly used wooden clubs and iron rods. An autopsy revealed several steel nails had been hammered into Kashif’s legs.

Initially, police were reluctant to register a murder case against Irfan, but following protests by local Christians and public pressure, a First Information Report was lodged and Irfan was arrested. Two other suspects, Areeb Babar and Ijaz Ikramullah, have secured pre-arrest bail and police are searching for others.

Kashif, one of nine siblings, is survived by his grieving family. “Our elderly mother is inconsolable. She has not stopped weeping since Kashif’s death,” said Riyasat. The family has appealed to Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and other officials for justice.

Nasir Saeed, director of CLAAS-UK, condemned the incident as a “brutal example of increasing violence against Christians in Pakistan”. He added: “There is a dangerous culture of impunity where powerful individuals act as judge, jury and executioner. The government must take decisive action to break this cycle and show that the lives of Christians are valued equally.”