Interfaith Leaders slam terrorist attack in Lahore and express solidarity with the victims

Image

Lahore: March 29, 2016. (Pervez Yousaf) Council for Interfaith Dialogue Pakistan (CFID) organized an interfaith prayer gathering for the victims of the Gulshan-e-Iqbal tragedy and expressed solidarity with their families within the premises of St. Mary’s Church Gulberg Lahore. The coordinator of CFID Fr. Francis Nadeem was the key person to hold this prayer gathering of Christian and Muslim leaders belonging to different walks of life. On this occasion talking to participants Fr. Francis Nadeem said that it is a significant demonstration of national and interreligious harmony by the followers of different religions. He said that His Holiness Pope Francis declared 2016 as the Year of Mercy. He practically demonstrated this exemplary act last Thursday (The Holy Thursday) by washing and kissing the feet of the asylum seekers and especially of Pakistani Muslim including believers of other religions residing in a refugee camp in Rome. Pope’s deliberate gesture was to express mercy and to show respect for all human-being of the world regardless of their color, creed or caste. He said the barbaric act of terrorists converted the joy of Easter into sorrow of the Christian children, youth, women and elderly persons along with their Muslim brethren who were also enjoying the weekend in Gulshan-e-Iqbal. They have killed 74 people out of them 43 were Christians while left more than 300 badly wounded of whom some are in critical condition. He demanded the concerned authorities and the government of Pakistan to take immediate and authentic security measures for the security of places of amusement along with academic institutions and places of worship so that children can go for studies and merry making along with their families and all can go to offer prayers in their respective places of worship fearlessly. Pir Shafaat Rasool Noori the head of Markaz Bilal said on one side we see Pope Francis declaring year 2016 the year of mercy and practically showing his gesture by washing and kissing feet of Muslims and on the other side we see Muslims slaughtering innocent human being including children and women. He further said that we all have to learn from Pope Francis and follow his exceptional motion. Pir Shafaat Rasool strongly condemned the merciless attempt of insensitive radicals, who have boldly claimed the responsibility of the attack. This is contrary to the teachings of Islam. A number of other participants commenting on the tragedy said that the terrorists have once again reminded us of the tragedy of “Karbala” after the APS and Youhanabad. The terrorists attacked innocent children, women and youth while they were gathered in Gulshan-e-Iqbal to celebrate festivities of Easter and the Muslim brethren who were enjoying the weekend. They expressed that we are tired of carrying dead bodies of innocent people on our shoulders and condemning such kind of attacks. They strongly condemned the attack and demanded government of Pakistan to be vigilant of the facilitators and funds raisers of the terrorist organizations. They also urged for the timely punishment for such cruel elements. Muslim, Christian and Hindu leaders also condemned the killing of Catholic nuns, kidnapping of Catholic priests in Yemen, recent terrorist attacks in Brussels and ongoing wave of violence against minorities in India. They demanded the concerned governments and UNO to take immediate actions to stop these attacks and violence against religious minorities. The participants lit candles to remember the deceased while offering prayers for their departed souls. They also recited prayers of the success of armed forces in their ongoing operation “Zarb-e-Azab” and expressed solidarity with families of all the victims. The prayer gathering was attended by Mufti Syed Ashiq Hussain the director CFID, Pervez Yousaf secretary of CFID, Fr. Qaisar Feroz OFM Cap, Br. Adnan Kashif, Sunil John, Rev. Emmneul Khokhar, Rev. Saleem Khokhar, Pir S. A. Jafri, Pervaiz Akhar, Nasir Ghani, Allama Waqar-ul-Hussnain Naqvi, Bhagat Lal, Allama Asghar Arif Chishti, Ejaz Safdar, Asghar Sardar, Allama Farooq Ahmed Saeedi, Shakil Francis, Haji Amir Rasheed, Pir Mushtaq Hashmi, Syed Mubashar Hussain, Mansoor Ahmed Moughal, and Pervaiz Gill. A number of women including Ayesha Khurram, Samina Daniel, Naila Sunil, Margret Pervaiz, Sara Pervaiz, Shirin Pervaiz, Azooba, Zeenat Sana, Ishrat Javed, Shehla, Anila were also present in the prayer gathering along with a number of children.

You May Also Like

Image

British Asian Christian Association Presents Report on Pakistan Persecution to UK Special Envoy at Foreign Office Ceremony

London: (By Hannah Chowdhry) Approximately 40 esteemed guests, including prominent figures from various NGOs dedicated to promoting international r

Image

Women leadership to lead struggle for Peaceful Pakistan; a pledge at Rwadari Iftar Get-together

Lahore: Led by the women leadership of Rwadari Tehreek Pakistan, the Annual Interfaith Iftar (breaking of the fast) on 20th March 2024 at the premi

Image

Sweeping Away Injustice: Asif Masih’s Bold Stand Against Brutality, Injustice, and Bigotry for Sweepers’ Rights

Pakistan: (By Hannah Chowdhry and Juliet Chowdhry) A Christian sweeper, duly elected as Chairman of the All Sweepers Union, faced brutal assaults b



"Trial of Pakistani Christian Nation" By Nazir S Bhatti

On demand of our readers, I have decided to release E-Book version of "Trial of Pakistani Christian Nation" on website of PCP which can also be viewed on website of Pakistan Christian Congress www.pakistanchristiancongress.org . You can read chapter wise by clicking tab on left handside of PDF format of E-Book.

nazirbhattipcc@aol.com , pakistanchristianpost@yahoo.com