Several men torch Christian man’s house for revealing corruption

Several men torch Christian man’s house for revealing corruption

Written by: Jawad Mazhar (ROD)

Shiekhupura, Pakistan, March 28^th (ROD): On February 25^th 2008 two men recognized as Qurbaan Ali Mangi and Abid Ali, hired 10 unknown men and ransacked and set ablaze the house of a poor Christian sanitary worker Boota Masih to revenge the divulging of their connivance and corrupt activities.

ROD Fact Finding Team (RFFT) has learnt that Boota Masih 35 has been working at GEPCO Poll Plant, Gujranwala as a sanitary worker for last two (02) years. While he was working there, he discovered that Mr Qurbaan Ali Mangi and Abid Ali were involved in malicious, illegal and corrupt activities. And due to their black deeds company had to undergo heavy economical lose. Boota Masih submitted an application to his senior officers regarding the corruption of both the men.

After a departmental enquiry both the men Abid Ali and Qurbaan Ali Mangi were found guilty and dismissed from their positions in the Gujranwala Electric Power Company (GEPCO) by a local court.

Since then the hate and fury to revenge had been simmering up in their hearts secretly. In revenge, about 10 armed men led by Mangi and Ali attacked the Christian family and injured Masih, his wife Sema, his son Adeel and his nephew Akram. The attackers ransacked the entire house and set it on fire. They then warned Masih of worse if he attempted to contact the police. As though destroying Masih's house and belongings was not enough, the gang of armed men forced the family to leave the area, RFFT established.

Boota Masih told RFFT from an undisclosed location through an intermediator, that he tried to register a case against the assailants, but police were initially reluctant of registering a case against the Gujranwala Electric Power Company’s officials. He added that police did register a case against the culprits after the intercession of a local court.

According to other sources (A local Daily) Masih’s wife Sema had been warned via telephone from an anonymous caller that her husband would be murdered. At present poor Christian family is living in hiding at an undisclosed location. Therefore RFFT is not able to obtain further updates regarding this sad and hostile face-off.