A Son’s Heartfelt Christmas Appeal for His Father’s Recovery

Asem Mustafa Awan

Islamabad: As Christmas approaches, homes across the country prepare for a season defined by family gatherings, shared meals, and the quiet hope that loved ones will be present at the table. For Shamon Masih, a sanitary worker from Gujranwala, this time of year carries a deeper, unresolved longing. 

For more than five years, his father, Sharif Masih, has been missing, and the family continues to wait—much as they do every Christmas—believing that he may still return, as he once did without fail.

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Sharif Masih’s disappearance was formally reported at Tatley Aali police station on July 10, 2020. The matter, which remains before the courts, is linked to a property dispute. According to available records, utility bills and ownership documents continue to bear Sharif Masih’s name, indicating the family’s long-standing association with the property. 

However, despite these documents, the family says they have been unable to regain possession or reach closure in the matter.

Over the years, Shamon has submitted representations to relevant authorities, including the office of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and Minority Affairs Minister Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora, seeking intervention strictly within the law. He remains hopeful, particularly in light of official statements emphasizing minority protection and access to justice.

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As the legal process continues, Shamon says the uncertainty has taken an emotional toll on the family.

 This Christmas, like those before it, they will gather with a sense of absence but also faith—marking the season not only with prayers, but with the enduring hope that truth will prevail and that Sharif Masih’s fate will one day be known.

Asem Mustafa Awan has extensive reporting experience with leading national and international media organizations. He has also contributed to reference books such as the Alpine Journal and the American Alpine Journal, among other international publications.

The article is the writer’s opinion, it may or may not adhere to the organization’s editorial policy.