POC 04 Azhar Qayum Family
A Wise Man and His Family
Family Details:
1- Azhar Qayum – Father – 24-12-1972
2- Shaheen Azhar – Mother – 22-03-1971
3- Sameer Azhar – Son – 31-01-2001
4- Muneeb Azhar – Son – 03-08-2003
Arrived as refugees in Bangkok: June 15, 2013
Refugee Status: “Refused” by UNHCR
Details on gaining Refugee Status is here.
From the flames of persecution, a new beginning rises
Azhar Qayum, a Catholic from Lahore, Pakistan, details his life and the events that led to his family fleeing the country due to religious persecution. Born into a Christian family, Azhar completed his education and worked as a computer operator in the police force. He was actively involved in the Church Welfare Society, advocating for the rights of Pakistan’s Christian community.
On March 8, 2013, Azhar witnessed the violent attack on Joseph Colony, a Christian neighborhood in Lahore, following false blasphemy accusations against Sawan Masih, a Christian man. The mob, incited by Islamic organizations, burned homes and vandalized property while the police, under orders from higher authorities, did nothing to stop the violence. Azhar, who was present during the attack, tried to intervene but was threatened by the police. In the aftermath, Azhar and his sister Riffat filed a plea against the false accusations, but they faced severe threats from Islamist extremists, including Lashkar-e-Jhangvi.
On March 26, 2013, Riffat was forced to convert to Islam and withdraw from the case after a near-death experience with extremists. The next day, Azhar and his wife, Shaheen, were violently assaulted by armed members of Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, who demanded that Azhar withdraw his name from the case. Fearing for their lives, Azhar and his family went into hiding. Despite continued threats, Azhar pursued justice for Sawan Masih in court. However, after receiving a death threat.
On June 13, 2013, while preparing to leave, Azhar and Shaheen were attacked at their home by extremists who broke in and fired gunshots. The police refused to provide protection, leaving Azhar and his family to fend for themselves. With the help of a relative, Ilyas, Azhar and his family fled to Bangkok on June 15, 2013, seeking safety from the ongoing religious persecution in Pakistan.
More information…
Azhar Qayam — Detailed Statement
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First published: 2025/07/17/
Latest revision: 2025/09/11/