Peshawar carnage aftermath

As reports of the tragic Peshawar church bombings filtered in on Express News, it was sad and depressing to see Christians in a Karachi locality pelting vehicles with stones and causing damage to public property. Later, police personnel, who rushed in to disperse the unruly mob, were also attacked with rocks and small arms fire.

All the while, mosques in Peshawar were sending out distress calls on their public announcement systems, for blood donations and volunteers to provide relief to their wounded Christian brethren. Condolences and sympathies were spontaneous and forthcoming, with Muslims from all walks of life openly condemning the cowardly and barbaric act.

Christians residing in Karachi’s Esa Nagri locality are not representatives of the community in Pakistan and must realise that their acts of vandalism are bound to cause animosity and friction. Therefore, in the paramount interest of peace and peaceful co-existence, we, the Christian community, must learn to voice concerns in a dignified and civilised manner.

To protest against an injustice is ones fundamental right, but when protests turn unruly causing damage to public and private property then public sympathy, even for the noblest of causes, is bound to erode.

As Christians, we are duty bound to condemn acts of violence, but we must also learn to control our emotions and abide by the law, while doing so. We must ensure that no black sheep enter our fold to cause rift and strife among the various communities peacefully co-existing in Karachi, since long.

The violence that followed the twin bombings has badly altered the peace loving image of the Christian community. Pakistan, despite all its failings, has always treated its Christian minority with respect for their contribution.

Irrespective of our caste or creed, we must all unite as a nation in these trying and testing times facing our beloved homeland.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 27^th, 2013.