Thousands of men, women and children attended a three-day religious event at the provincial capital's Jinnah Ground to be cured from chronic pain through 90 pastors, majority of whom were from Russia.
The three-day religious event titled 'Pakistan Peace Festival' started on Friday and was attended by thousands of Christian families from different parts of the city. Special security arrangements were made for the attendees.
"I am here to get prayers from pastors, they have the strength to heal my daughter," an elderly woman accompanied by a young girl said. "I believe she will be able to speak clearly."
Another woman said that she had been sick for the past three years and had visited different doctors but could not find any relief. However, she said that now she could "feel the pain going away forever".
During the event, pastors in red shirts touched the affected body parts of civilians while reciting verses to seek cure for them from God.
"This what people call belief," Thomas, an attendee accompanied by his mother, remarked. He said that pastors specially come to Pakistan to pray for the people of Pakistan. "They also pray for the prosperity of our country," he added.
"These pastors pray to God to heal these needy people," said Pastor Atiq Qaisar Bhatti, the host of the event. "Not only Christians, but people from other religions also attended the religious event and brought their loved ones for special prayers."
The event is being organised since 2014 in many parts of Pakistan, including Islamabad and Gujranwala. "The crowd on the third day amounted to 40,000," claimed Rehan Ghauri, one of the organisers of the event. He said that the government supported them in arranging the event.
"People come here to see some miracles," he added.
Ghauri said that hundreds of sick people who attended the event got relief. "It is a strong belief system," he added.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 3rd, 2022.
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