Christian janitor died saving Muslim students

Islamabad, Paksitan (CNN) -- Life is slowly getting back to normal at the women's campus of Islamabad's International Islamic University.

The young women who study here chatter on the school's well-manicured lawns, their brightly-colored scarves and Pakistani dresses blowing in the wind on a sunny autumn day.

Barely three weeks ago, this quiet place of learning was the scene of a nightmare. On October 20, two suicide bombers launched near simultaneous attacks on both the men's and women's side of the campus.

Afsheen Zafar, 20, is in mourning. Three of her classmates, girls she describes as "shining stars," were killed on that terrible day.

Still, she says the carnage could have been much worse if not for the actions of a lowly janitor, who was also killed.

"If he didn't stop the suicide attacker, there could have been great, great destruction," Zafar says.

"He's now a legend to us," says another 20-year-old student named Sumaya Ahsan. "Because he saved our lives, our friends' lives."

The janitor's name was Pervaiz Masih. According to eyewitness accounts, the attacker approached disguised in women's clothing. He shot the guard on duty, and then approached the cafeteria, which was packed with hundreds of female students.

Masih intercepted the bomber in the doorway, however, and the bomber self-detonated right outside the crowded hall, spraying many of his explosive vest's arsenal of ball bearings out into the parking lot instead of into the cafeteria.

"The sweeper who was cleaning up here saw someone outside and went towards him," said Nasreen Siddique, a cafeteria worker who was wounded in the head, leg and arm by the blast. "[Masih] told him that he could not come inside because there were girls inside. And then they started arguing. And then we heard a loud blast and all the glass broke."

"Between 300 to 400 girls were sitting in there," said Professor Fateh Muhammad Malik, the rector of the university. "[Pervez Masih] rose above the barriers of caste, creed and sectarian terrorism. Despite being a Christian, he sacrificed his life to save the Muslim girls."

Masih was a member of Pakistan's Christian minority, traditionally one of the poorest communities in the country.

When the attacker struck, Masih had been on the job for less than a week, earning barely $60 a month.
Masih lived with seven other family members, in a single room in a crowded apartment house in the city of Rawalpindi. Until the attack his mother, 70-year old Kurshaid Siddique, worked as a cleaning lady at a nearby house to help make ends meet. Now, she makes a daily pilgrimage to the cemetery where Masih is buried.

Siddique is inconsolable. Asked if she was proud that some people were calling her son a hero, Siddique waved a hand in the air dismissively, answering, "My hero is dead now."

She pulls out a framed photo of her son, pictured wearing a button down white shirt and a thick mustache. When Masih's three-year-old daughter Diya sees his photo, she reaches for it, saying, "Mama, I want that picture."

From time to time, Diya turns to her mother and repeats one word, "Papa."

The Islamic University offered to give Diya a free education and employ Masih's widow, Shaheen Pervaiz.

Meanwhile, the Pakistani government has promised to award Masih's family 1 million rupees (about $12,000) for his bravery.

"He is a national hero because he saved the life of many girls," said Shahbaz Bhatti, minister of minorities in the Pakistani government. "As a Christian, a person of minority, he stood in front of the Taliban to protect the university."

But the grave of this national hero is a sorry sight. It is located in the poorer, garbage-strewn Christian half of a neighborhood cemetery, less then three feet from a muddy road.

Masih's mother and widow visit every day. One of his sisters crosses herself, then stoops down to pick up an empty pack of cigarettes someone threw onto the little mound of earth.

The family had to borrow money to pay for Masih's funeral and they are now behind on paying the rent. If the government money comes through, Masih's mother would like to decorate her son's grave.

"I would like him to have his name in cement with a nice poetry verse," she says. "And there should be a fence surrounding his grave."

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[MrYonahdiq]

To all my muslim brothers. This christian gentleman died a honourable death. Talking is cheap. Stop the bickering. At least give something to his poor family. Don't be selfish. Give them what you can afford just for once and I sincerely urge all my muslim brothers who read this to give something, 1000, 500, 100,50 or even 10 rupees can go a long way if done in mass. Please think and do for ALLAH sake. Salaam.

[VitoBandito1]

@SwooshSherbert Because the Christian died saving those who hated him. In Muslim societies Christians are outcast and persecuted and forced to lead very hard lives as second rate citizens and no rights. This example contrasts love and hate. Would you have done this for someone that hated you? Not bloody likely.

[yawars1]

I read the Book Urantia Truth..... The Midwayer Commission of the Melchizedek emphasize Muhammad failed to interpret Trinity. This is the Book for higher intelligence! It encourage us to Read Bible Gospel!

It says, Angel Gabriel of Salvington never sent his message to Muhammad and it was work of Baal, the Demon of Deception!

[yawars1]

Two of them Died as Martyr, One a Christian, the other one is Muslim... The other one condemn and the selected one begging to the Jesus, Person who murder him... If such thing, you don't know the pain of condemnation by Sin, the other one sympathy with his Love... From the End, We have only regret to help them... As they hate you!

We can end this hatred for love!

[yawars1]

@yawars1 We died to be persecuted but the words of truth is always be the truth, from those People who justify of taking lives for their own faith....

We never killed for God, God was died for Us, to save us from our Sin...

If this endless hatred will prevail, how many People died...

[yawars1]

Behold to the Man who offer his life to save humanity, there are place on him on the Kingdom of God... He died for love and for the sake of others... Though we lived to be persecuted from his name but the gift that given to us is Eternal life....

[SamuelJoaodaSuica]

@kakarot1234567891234

Yes, you are right... I don't believe in "Christianity", I believe in Christ... I believe in God, not some man made religion... And if you read about Christ in the Bible and read about Christ in the Koran you will realize they are not the same, unless you are ignorant, or just plain stupid, you too will see the difference if you care enough to find out on your own...

[kakarot1234567891234]

@SamuelJoaodaSuica It's the one and the same, don't believe me? Then that means you are not actually believing in Christianity. Funny how that works out eh? Judaism, Islam and Christianity are all "linked" if you know what I mean.

[SamuelJoaodaSuica]

@kakarot1234567891234

Because the Islamic Jesus is not the same as the real Jesus Christ... Muhammad made up his own stories about Christ... Muhammad was a liar...

[kakarot1234567891234]

@SamuelJoaodaSuica Listen, until you understand the sociological, philosophical, ideological and theological aspects of religion only then can you make a statement that's seen as somewhat "credible" In Islam we believe BOTH Jesus Christ and the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), a lot of non muslims always try and put Jesus and Muhammad (PBUH) on the same level. Yes they were both prophets but how can someone say "Jesus Christ was a savior and Muhammad (PBUH) was a slayer" when we believe in both?

[SamuelJoaodaSuica]

@kakarot1234567891234

For common sense sake... Stop using "people" as an example of what Muhammad and Christ represent. You are clearly uneducated. Just for a second ignore what both MUSLIMS AND CHRISTIANS do and only focus on the DIRECT teachings of Muhammad in the Koran and Jesus Christ in the Bible...

I know Christians have committed acts of Terrorism as well, but we are not comparing Christians vs Muslims... We are comparing Jesus Christ vs Muhammad... These are VERY DIFFERENT...

[SamuelJoaodaSuica]

@PortVienna80

Because Muhammad preached hate against Non-muslims...

Jesus said spread the good news, and if they hate and reject you, pray for them, bless them and move on...

Muhammad basically said "Convert... or die..."