Kohati church blast: A tale of forgotten victims and promises

Family members hold prayers for loved ones on third anniversary of the attack

PESHAWAR: As Peshawar’s Christian community marks the third anniversary of the All Saint’s Church Kohati blast, victims of the attack still wait for the prime minister and other dignitaries to fulfil their promises.

A small prayer ceremony was held on Thursday at the All Saint’s Church to mark the fateful day that claimed the lives of almost 100 people and left many more injured.

Family members of the victims gathered to pray for those who were killed in the blast and held a vigil in remembrance of their loved ones.



Almost 100 people were killed in the Kohati church attack when suicide bombers blew themselves in the church’s yard where the people had gathered for a meal after the Sunday Mass.

“My daughter died so early, if she was alive she would have been 23-year-old now,” Bushra Maseeh, mother of Saiqa Maseeh, a victim, said.



“Saiqa loved Pakistan like every Pakistani does, her picture was taken on August 14 when she sang the national anthem in a function organised by the church on Independence Day,” she said, pointing at Saiqa’s picture hanging with those of other victims on a wall.

“My son will never come back. Three years have passed but my heart still doesn’t accept (the fact) that he is not among us,” Parveen, mother of another victim, shared.



Compensation

Following the blast, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had announced to establish a trust to help widows, orphans and senior citizens but nothing has been done so far.

Arshad Maseeh told The Express Tribune that they least expected the prime minister to stand by his words.

Peshawar’s Bishop Humphery Sarfraz Peter said that the prime minister claimed that the money had been paid but that was not true.

He added that Punjab’s health minister had also contacted them to provide medical assistance to those critically injured in the attack but he too did nothing.

Peter complained that the Supreme Court of Pakistan had directed the government to form a force to provide security to the places of worship but in vain.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 23^rd, 2016.