Hard time healing: Memorial held for fallen educationist William Ghulam

Pakistan Minorities Alliance<br /> takes out solidarity rally from All Saints Church.

PESHAWAR: As parishioners gathered inside All Saints Church on Saturday to observe a memorial service for the family of educationist William Ghulam, his 16-year-old son Joel William’s gaze kept going back to the spaces where he found the bodies of his father, sister and brother.

William, a government high school principal, his 24-year-old son Noel, an MBBS final year student and his daughter Meerab, 18, killed in the twin bombings at the church last September. William’s wife also sustained severe injuries in the blast and still hasn’t completely recovered.

The memorial service was arranged by William’s family ahead of the first anniversary of the terrible attack. A large number of relatives and churchgoers attended the service to remember William and his children and their contributions to the society.

Speaking to The Express Tribune after the Mass, William’s brother Anwar Ghulam said the loss of his brother and his children had a devastating effect on the family and they were still struggling to deal with it.

“The family was among the most accomplished families in the Christian community, and we have lost them,” said Anwar in between sobs.

Solidarity rally

Earlier, the youth cabinet of the Pakistan Minorities Alliance (PMA) organised a rally in the city on Saturday to express solidarity with the families of the people who died in the blast.

The rally led by PMA Youth Cabinet organisers Yasir Bhatti, Samson Jacob and media coordinator Waheeduddin James began from Lahori Gate around 3pm and ended at the All Saints Church in Kohati.

A large number of Christians and social activists participated in the rally including the family of William Ghulam and Bishop of Peshawar Humphrey Sarfaraz Peter.

Speaking to the rally participants, Jacob said their Muslim neighbours immediately came to their help when Christians were facing a hard time after the blasts. “People from across the country stood by us and gave us immense support in our time of need,” said Jacob. They participated in solidarity rallies and condemned the incident which created a sense of unity among all citizens, he added.

Bishop Peter said special arrangements had been made to observe the anniversary of the blast on Monday and prayers for peace, harmony and stability would be held across the country.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 21^st, 2014.