Despite fierce resistance from the mob, police rescued 10 Christians and moved them to safety, Gill said.
Following the intervention of local Muslim state assemblyman Rizwan Gill, police took Masih in an ambulance to Sargodha Military Hospital, with only his son allowed to stay with him due to security concerns.
Police were forced to use tear gas to disperse the crowds.
Christians praised the police for saving the Christian family. Catholic human rights activist Samuel Pialla praised the police officers for their courage and timely intervention to control the situation.
Gill said police action meant no other Christian homes or churches were attacked.
Senator Sindh told CNA that Masih underwent surgery on Monday but his condition remains critical. He has been sent to Islamabad for further treatment.
In a bid to control the lawlessness, the district administration has invoked Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) and banned all kinds of rallies, demonstrations and gatherings in the district till May 31.
There has also been an increased police presence in Christian areas and around churches.
Special prayer services were held in churches across the country on Sunday, with church leaders praying for peace and tolerance in the country.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Malhi told media that Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz had instructed to take all possible measures to save lives.
He also revealed that a case has been filed on behalf of the state against over 400 unidentified suspects, including Ayub Gondal, under sections of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) and Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), 1997. Till now, police have arrested over 100 suspects for alleged mob violence and attempted lynching of Masih.
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Emmanuel Athar Julian MPA, a member of the Punjab Assembly and a Catholic, moved a motion to the Punjab Assembly Secretariat to debate the incident in the Assembly.
Police have also filed a case against Masih under blasphemy laws, according to Lashkar-e-Labaq Pakistan (LLP) activist Muhammad Jahangir.
Christian, Muslim and Hindu rights groups organized protests in many major cities, including Faisalabad and Karachi. Safina Javed, a Catholic human rights activist in Karachi, told CNA that people from all walks of life participated in the protests organized by the Minority Rights March, demanding the repeal of the blasphemy laws.
Since the introduction of Pakistan’s controversial blasphemy laws, accusations of blasphemy have been widely used to settle personal scores against Christians.
Mob attacks against Christians continue in Pakistan.
In addition to terrorist attacks on churches, Christian neighborhoods have also been attacked for alleged blasphemy: 89 Christian homes and 24 churches were burnt in Jaranwala last year.
