By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
SARGODHA, PAKISTAN (Worthy News) - The wife of an elderly Christian who recently died of his injuries after being lynched by a Muslim mob in eastern Pakistan has also passed away following a heart attack linked to stress, Worthy News learned Wednesday.
In May, Muslims attacked 74-year-old Nazir Masih in the city of Sargodha in Punjab province while falsely accusing him of burning pages from the Koran, seen as a holy book by Islam, Christians said.
A video sent to Worthy News by a well-informed Christian at the time showed the suffering, bleeding older man sitting on his knees with a deep wound in the back of his head.
People were apparently shouting insults at the man, whose clothing appeared soaked in blood. A mob had gathered and sought to kill him, hitting him with bricks, stones, and sticks, Christians said.
In three footage obtained by Worthy News, their house and shoemaking factory could be seen on fire.
After being rushed to hospital, the Christian man, a Presbyterian, passed away from injuries sustained in the violence, which also saw attacks against other Christians.
“Following this tragic incident, Nazir's wife Naseem was left devastated, struggling to overcome the trauma of seeing her husband brutally beaten by his attackers” before she too died, said advocacy group Voice Of the Martyrs Canada (VOMC).
‘TEARS NEVER DRIED’
In comments shared with Worthy News, her son Sultan recalled, “The tears in her eyes never dried."
“When bail was granted to the perpetrators responsible for the attack, the Christian widow's agony was further intensified,” VOMC told Worthy News.
“On Friday, June 21, Naseem began experiencing chest pains. An ambulance was called for the Christian woman, and the paramedics stated that her symptoms were likely due to stress,” added VOMC, who has close knowledge about the situation.
“Since it was time for Friday's Islamic prayers, they told the family that no senior doctor would be available to look at her, so they gave her medication and left. When Naseem's condition did not stabilize, her family took her to the hospital, where she died of cardiac arrest,” the group explained.
The Christian woman was buried next to her husband. "Our lives have been completely shattered. All family members – including children – are suffering from depression and stress. We have lost our business and are forced to live in our own house as refugees.... We've already lost hope for justice, and now my mother has left us,” her son added.
VOMC said it had urged its supporters “to pray” for the family. “For the family members who are now mourning the loss of both Nazir and Naseem, tensions remain high. Many are fearful whenever they enter public spaces, concerned that they may be followed and potentially attacked.”
Pakistan has come under international pressure to improve the plight of minority Christians and other non-Muslims. Rights groups suggest that controversial blasphemy has contributed to an atmosphere of hatred toward non-Muslims in the Islamic nation.