A 22-year-old Pakistani Christian man has been attacked by his supervisor for refusing to convert to Islam, according to reports received by Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN).

The incident reportedly occurred on Saturday, March 22, during a private meeting at the Subhan Paper Mills factory in Sheikhupura, Punjab. 

Waqas Masih, the victim, was allegedly stabbed by his supervisor, Zohaib Iftikhar, after enduring ongoing pressure to renounce his Christian faith.

Family members told ACN that the attack was linked to Iftikhar's demand that Masih convert to Islam. Iftikhar allegedly accused Masih of desecrating pages of the Qur'an that were reportedly found in the factory’s rubbish.

The police have launched an investigation into the incident, which has been registered as an attempted murder.

Masih suffered serious injuries to his neck and was rushed to Mayo Hospital in Lahore, where he is receiving critical medical treatment.

Iftikhar has been arrested following the filing of a First Information Report (FIR).

Father Lazar Aslam, a Capuchin Franciscan priest who visited Masih in the hospital, condemned the attack and called for greater protection of religious minorities in Pakistan.

"The attack on Waqas Masih is a harsh reminder of the challenges faced by religious minorities in Pakistan and the urgent need for social change to promote tolerance and protect the rights of all citizens," he said in a statement to ACN.

Father Aslam also emphasized the growing issue of false blasphemy accusations in Pakistan, calling it a disturbing trend that disproportionately targets vulnerable minority communities.

“We urge state institutions and responsible individuals to take concrete steps to prevent such incidents and ensure the protection of minority rights,” he added.

The priest further called on the international community to pray for the victim’s recovery and raise awareness about the difficult situation faced by marginalised communities in Pakistan.