POC 08 Jahanzaib Ishaq Family
The Cost of Belief
My family:
- Jahanzaib Ishaq – Father – 28-10-1986
- Humaira Latif – Mother – 09-09-1992
- Justin King – Son – 17-05-2014
- Johanna Rose – Daughter – 28-12-2017
Arrived as refugees in Bangkok: December 18, 2013
Refugee Status: “Refused” by UNHCR
Details on gaining Refugee Status is here.
A Christian family flees Pakistan to survive
Jahanzaib Ishaq, a Christian from Faisalabad, Pakistan, details his family’s life and the persecution they faced. Born into a Christian family, he worked in hospitality and event management before moving to Lahore in 2013 for a job at the Garrison Golf and Country Club. He lived with his stepbrother, Babar Ishaq, and their families in a rented house, where the landlord was Muslim.
On November 2, 2013, their lives were upended when Babar’s six-year-old son, Soham, who had a sensory impairment, accidentally tore pages from the Quran during tuition at his Muslim teachers’ home. The teachers and their family reacted violently, beating Soham, his siblings, and Jahanzaib’s wife, Humaira. A mob from the local Sunni Tehreek mosque soon gathered outside their home, assaulting Jahanzaib and Babar upon their return. The family narrowly escaped and sought refuge with relatives.
The threats continued, with mobs searching for them and neighbors issuing warnings not to return. With no police protection, they turned to their church for help. Pastor Sushil connected them to a travel agent, and on December 17, 2013, all ten family members fled Pakistan for Thailand on tourist visas.
The persecution stemmed from false accusations of blasphemy due to Soham’s unintentional act, highlighting the dangers faced by religious minorities in Pakistan. The family’s ordeal underscores the lack of legal safeguards and the constant threat of mob violence, forcing them to abandon their home and country for survival.
More information…
Jahanzaib Ishaq — Detailed Statement
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First published: 2025/07/31/
Latest revision: 2025/09/10/