Murder Apparently Motivated by Religious Hatred

Farhan Ul Qamar, a 20-year-old Christian student, was killed in his family's home on November 9th by an intruder who had been noted for harbouring hatred towards Christians and Jews. The attack came in the midst of a volatile situation further escalated by the war between Israel and Hamas.

The murder of Farhan was not an isolated occurrence in the village of Talwandi Inayat Khan, Punjab. In a previous incident, two Christian brothers, Aqib and Asher Javed, were beaten by locals after they expressed support for Israel. As a result, several Christian families fled the village, fearing additional violence.

It is unknown why the perpetrator of the November 9th attack – identified by police as Muhammad Zubair – targeted Farhan, though there had been a minor argument between them the previous day. Following the dispute, at around 3 a.m. on the day of the attack, Muhammad entered the Ul Qamar home through a window and shot Farhan three times. He then held the victim's family hostage for nearly 40 minutes, refusing to allow them to come near the fatally injured young man.

Throughout the ordeal, Muhammad ranted about his hatred for Jews and taunted the victimized Christian family. After he left, the family screamed for help, but their neighbours appeared to be unwilling to intervene. By the time Farhan's parents were able to bring their injured son to the hospital, it was too late to save him.

Until recently, the family had kept quiet about details of the incident, fearing backlash from local Muslims. Thankfully, Muhammad Zubair has now been arrested by police. The assailant claimed during the interrogation that he thought it was Aqib or Asher Javed who was being shot. However, Farhan's family members attest that the attack was clearly targeted, as Muhammad repeatedly referred to Farhan by name throughout the incident. The family has appealed to legal aid groups for assistance, since they lack the resources required to hire a lawyer. "If we are unable to find good legal representation, I fear the murderer will be let off, and then no Christian will be safe in this village," stated Farhan's father, Noor Ul Qamar.

Life for Christians in Pakistan is dangerous, as militant Islamic ideologies are prevalent throughout the country. Events such as the Israeli-Hamas war can quickly escalate an already unstable situation. For more reports on the persecution of Christians in Pakistan, go to our country report.

Pray that the Ul Qamar family will receive the financial and legal assistance they need to ensure justice for Farhan. May God guide the police in their investigation so that the truth will prevail, and measures would be taken to protect our Christian family in Pakistan from further incidents of violence. Also ask the Lord to minister His peace, love and comfort to each one of Farhan's family members and friends as they mourn the loss of this young man. Additionally, intercede for Muhammad, the perpetrator of the crime, who needs God's conviction, forgiveness and eternal salvation.