Christians in Pakistan decry inadequate protection

The protection provided by the authorities was "minimal", despite warnings already launched in recent days, given the threats received by the churches; and "agents present at the time of the attack were busy watching the cricket match on TV, instead of carrying out their duty to protect churches. As a result of this neglect, many Christians have lost their lives": So says an official statement of the "Justice and Peace" Commission (NCJP) of the Episcopal Conference of Pakistan.

In the note sent to Fides, the National Director of the Commission, Fr. Emmanuel Yousaf Mani, and the Executive Director, Cecil Chaudhry Shane, jointly declare: "It is urgent to stop the use of religion as a pretext to kill religious minorities. We call on the provincial and federal government to take serious measures to protect minorities". The Commission urges the "political will" to apply "the recommendations expressed by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court on the protection of religious minorities and the elimination of terrorism from society".

Meanwhile the Catholic  and Protestant communities of Pakistan  held a day of fasting and prayer on Tuesday  for the victims. Religious leaders of both denominations have invited civil society as a whole to join the observance as a sign of solidarity, and to stop any violent reaction to the attacks of March 15, which killed 17 people and wounded more than 70.

The injured in hospitals complain about the lack of appropriate care and medicines. Their relatives claim that they are not receiving the necessary treatment for their injuries and have appealed to the authorities to intervene.

On March 15, two militants of Jamaat-ul-Arhar, an offshoot of the Pakistani Taliban, blew themselves up outside the churches St. John (Catholic) and Christ Church (Protestant) in Youhanabad, a predominantly Christian neighborhood in Lahore (Punjab). The attacks have sparked the wrath of the Christian community, which reacted in a violent way. (Fides, AsiaNews)