Church bombing: ‘Provide security or give us weapons’

Families of victims demand burns patients be shifted to other parts of the country.

PESHAWAR: “Law enforcement agencies had intelligence information about Sunday’s heinous attack, but they still left such a historic church under the protection of only two constables,” said Joseph Francis, the national director of the Centre for Legal Assistance and Settlement (CLAAS).

“If the government cannot provide us security then they should provide us licences for weapons so we can guard our places of worship against such attacks,” he said at a press conference at the Peshawar Press Club (PPC) on Monday.

Families of the victims demanded the government to shift patients  with burn injuries to hospitals in other parts of the country, since there are no burn units in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P).

“There are 40 women and children who sustained burn injuries in the All Saints Church blasts. They are scattered in different hospitals throughout the city, but none of these hospitals have facilities for their treatment,” said Katharine Sapna, a member of the centre.



Sapna added considering the frequent bomb blasts in the city, the lack of burn treatment facilities should be a priority for the provincial government.

Participants insisted that the patients be moved to hospitals in Punjab or Islamabad for proper treatment. There was also a demand to increase the monetary compensation package provided to the families of the victims to Rs1 million.

Meanwhile, criticism was directed at the K-P government for not taking emergency measures to provide relief to the affected families.

“We condemn the statement given by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan that this tragic incident is being politicised by other parties and manoeuvred against the PTI. All political parties have expressed their sympathies and are encouraging people to provide maximum assistance,” said Francis.

Many notable members of the Christian community attended the press conference, including Saleem Gabriel, the chairman of the Pakistan Minority Movement, and Samuel Payara, the president of the Bright Future Society.

All Pakistan Minorities Alliance

In another press briefing, the All Pakistan Minorities Alliance asked the government to review the decisions made at the all-parties conference (APC) and take strong action against militants.

“Dialogues can be held only with those who believe in the Constitution of Pakistan and obey the writ of state; not with those who kill innocent people,” said Pervaiz Rafique, a member of the alliance. “The government must use force against terrorists, otherwise the restoration of peace will become a distant dream.”

The Chairman of the Pakistan European Church Alliance Bishop Samuel, Father John William and Pastor Azhar Kaleem were also present.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 24^th, 2013.