Religious harmony: Christians celebrate Easter in FATA
50 Christian families living peacefully in FATA say they never felt discriminated against.
GHALLANAI:
The Christian community in Mohmand and Bajaur agencies, areas that have borne the brunt of Taliban militancy, will celebrate the festival of Easter today (Sunday).
Raza Masih, Father at the Church of Ghallanai, told The Express Tribune that Father James Samuel and Babu Nadeem will come from Peshawar to deliver the Easter sermon at the church.
“Officials of the Mohmand political administration and members of the Mohmand Press Club have been asked to join us in the Easter Walk and prayers at our church,” Waris Khan, a Christian worker at the press club, told The Express Tribune. “Last year, the agency’s political agent visited our church in Ghallanai and participated in Easter prayers.”
According to Khan, 50 Christian families live in Ghallanai, the headquarters of Mohmand Agency, and most serve in different government departments. They also have their own Catholic church in the area. “We live peacefully in the agency. Even some Muslim colleagues join us during ceremonies and religious festivals.” Students in the area – Rahol from grade 5 and Kindergarten student Smith – said that their teachers and classmates treated them like brothers. They said they never felt discriminated against at school because of their religion.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 8th, 2012.
The Christian community in Mohmand and Bajaur agencies, areas that have borne the brunt of Taliban militancy, will celebrate the festival of Easter today (Sunday).
Raza Masih, Father at the Church of Ghallanai, told The Express Tribune that Father James Samuel and Babu Nadeem will come from Peshawar to deliver the Easter sermon at the church.
“Officials of the Mohmand political administration and members of the Mohmand Press Club have been asked to join us in the Easter Walk and prayers at our church,” Waris Khan, a Christian worker at the press club, told The Express Tribune. “Last year, the agency’s political agent visited our church in Ghallanai and participated in Easter prayers.”
According to Khan, 50 Christian families live in Ghallanai, the headquarters of Mohmand Agency, and most serve in different government departments. They also have their own Catholic church in the area. “We live peacefully in the agency. Even some Muslim colleagues join us during ceremonies and religious festivals.” Students in the area – Rahol from grade 5 and Kindergarten student Smith – said that their teachers and classmates treated them like brothers. They said they never felt discriminated against at school because of their religion.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 8th, 2012.