Christian pensioner, 74, is beaten and stoned to death by 400-strong lynch mob after he was accused of ‘burning pages of the Koran’ in Pakistan

An elderly Christian man in Pakistan who was beaten and stoned by a 400-strong mob after being accused of burning pages of the Koran has reportedly died of his injuries.

Nazir Masih and his son were met with a furious mob at their home in the city of Sargodha, Punjab province, on May 25 after they allegedly desecrated the holy book.

Accusations of blasphemy against Masih, who was aged 74, are believed to have been false, and his family have denied the claims. 

The factory owner and his son were still set on, with attackers punching, kicking and hurling stones at them, before setting the family’s home and Masih’s factory on fire.

Twelve members of Masih’s family managed to escape, while his son was beaten and the pensioner was left with severe injuries before police arrived and managed to pull him away from the mob.

Horrifying footage appears to show Masih being surrounded by swelling crowds as a gaping wound on his head is bleeding and he appears barely conscious

He was rushed to hospital in a critical condition, and nine days on reports have now emerged that he has succumbed to his injuries.

Horrifying footage shows Masih covered in dust and with a bleeding open head wound as people desperately try to help him.

Separate video of the incident shows crowds massing in a residential street of the city, believed to be where Masih lived, with smoke rising in the background as fires are lit.

The police have registered cases against some 450 people under an anti-terrorism law, UCA News reports, with 25 arrested in the attack on Masih.

Property agent Muhammad Jahangir reportedly made a complaint to the police saying Masih desecrated the Koran and ‘spread religious hatred by hurting feelings of Muslims and risked peace in the area.’

Blasphemy is illegal in Pakistan and punishable by death, but accused have, in many instances, been lynched before their cases can even go to trial. 

Human rights activists have argued that police are not doing enough to stop accusers taking matters into their own hands.

Picture is believed to show Christian factory owner Nazir Masih, who is reported to have lost his life after the brutal attack

Pictures shared on X appear to show Masih receiving treatment after the attack on May 25

According to Father Khalid Rashid Asi, diocesan director of the National Commission for Justice and Peace (NCJP), Christians ‘are just implicated in such incidents to settle personal scores and for personal grudges.’

‘The mob has no right to lynch any person; there is the police and the legal system to provide justice to everyone.’

Christians have taken to the streets to protest against the latest violence, while many are said to have left their area for their safety.

Reports emerged last week that Masih had died from his injuries, but these were later refuted by a family member. 

The attack comes just nine months after riots were sparked in Jaranwala, a city in Punjab, following rumours that another man and his son had ‘disrespected’ the Koran by putting photographs of themselves in it.