Pakistan’s Catholic bishops condemn Lahore suicide attack

(Vatican Radio) Pakistan’s Catholic bishops have condemned the Taliban suicide bombing in the eastern city of Lahore, July 24, that killed 26 people, including nine policemen, and wounded 54 others.   "Killing innocent people and security agents is unacceptable,” said the National Commission for Justice and Peace (NCJP) of the Pakistan Catholic Bishops' Conference (PCBC). 

Police said a suicide bomber on a motorcycle targeted police guarding a demolition site at Kot Lakhpat's vegetable market on the outskirts of Lahore.  The outlawed militant group Tehrik-e-Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack.  

Extremists recruting children

Drawing attention to the teenage suicide bomber, NCJP officials issued a statement noting the young age of attackers who have hit several Pakistani cities in the past months.  Noting that "illegal extremist groups are using our youth to bring about destruction,” the NCJP said, “We must unite forces despite our political-religious or cultural differences and save our children from this demon.”   “We all need to stand together with government officials in every possible way to fight against extremism,”  said the statement signed by NCJP chairman Bishop Joseph Arshad of Faisalabad, national director Fr. Emmanuel Yousaf and executive director Cecil S. Chaudhry.  

Security for all

Bishop Arshad and Fr. Yousaf argued that "life is uncertain because of the insecurity in the country and the citizens are even more vulnerable".  Pakistan’s Catholic bishops thus called on authorities, "to ensure the guilty of justice, to address the extremists and root out the causes of intolerance", as well as to "strengthen the protection of all citizens".  

"In our country, people have forgotten humanity" lamented Pastor John Feroze of Christ King Gospel Ministries in Lahore.  "Terrorists do not respect Islam. Peace can not prevail until the government acts severely against madrasas (Islamic seminaries), radical imams and illegal terrorist groups," he told AsiaNews.  

Roger Randhawa, in charge of Caritas, the social arm of the Catholic Church in Lahore also lamented to AsiaNews saying, "Our city is a frequent target because it is literally called 'Heart of Pakistan'.