Christian Man Faces Blasphemy Allegations Amid Local Dispute in Lahore

July 21, 2025

Amir Masih, a Christian man from Lahore, was arrested on blasphemy charges widely believed to stem from a personal dispute over rainwater drainage. The case highlights ongoing misuse of blasphemy laws to target religious minorities in Pakistan.

In a troubling incident highlighting the continued vulnerability of religious minorities in Pakistan, a Christian man, Amir Masih, was arrested in Lahore’s Nishat Colony on blasphemy charges under Section 295-C of the Pakistan Penal Code. The law, which carries the possibility of a death sentence or life imprisonment, was invoked following a complaint by a local Muslim resident, Sanoor Ali.

According to the complaint, Masih allegedly made derogatory remarks about the Prophet during a conversation about Pakistan’s worsening economic conditions. However, deeper scrutiny reveals a different context. Reports suggest the accusation may be rooted in a personal conflict between the two men concerning a rainwater drainage dispute. The two neighbors, who have lived on the same street for years, had reportedly exchanged heated words just days earlier after water from Masih’s house flowed into Ali’s shop during heavy rains.

Legal experts and Christian rights advocates, including Napoleon Qayyum, have raised serious concerns about the authenticity of the charges. Qayyum stated that the blasphemy accusation appears to be a means of retaliation in a minor neighborhood dispute, rather than a genuine incident of religious defamation. Masih, a father of two, denies making any blasphemous remarks and maintains that the case is entirely baseless.

Blasphemy remains an extremely sensitive issue in Pakistan. Accusations—often without evidence—can result not only in legal action but also provoke mob violence, endangering the lives of the accused and their families. In many instances, such allegations have been used as tools to settle personal scores, disproportionately targeting religious minorities such as Christians and Hindus.

This case underscores the urgent need for reform and safeguards to prevent the misuse of blasphemy laws in Pakistan, and to protect the rights and safety of vulnerable communities.