Lahore church attacks: Christians hold protests, demand protection

Missionary schools in twin cities to remain closed on Monday.

ISLAMABAD: Shocked at the suicide attacks on two churches in Lahore on Sunday, Christians staged protest rallies in the twin cities of Islamabad-Rawalpindi demanding immediate steps to protect religious and other minorities of the country.

They stage protest rallies at Khanna Pul, Faizabad, Zero Point, Super Market and Jinnah Super Market, blocking Islamabad Expressway and chanted slogans against religious extremism and terrorism.

Commuters faced difficulties due to road blocks as public transport vans got stuck in long queues between Airport Chowk and Faizabad.

Shahzad Anjum, a spokesperson for the Christian Youth Uplift Forum said that they did not want to spread chaos rather only wanted to get their protest registered peacefully.

Commenting on incidents of mob violence in Lahore in the aftermath of the attacks, he said that people who suffered were left with no other option but to mourn the death of their loved ones in whatever way they could. Priests from various churches of the capital appealed to the protesters to stay calm.

In a meeting of various Christian groups, Anjum said, it was decided that all missionary schools in the twin cities would remain closed on Monday. Special prayers and vigils will also be organised, he added.

The protesters said that despite regular attacks on churches and Christian neighbourhoods, the government had not taken any steps to ensure security.

“Churches are visited, records are maintained and then the authorities ask us to arrange security [on our own] for our places of worship,” said Nadeem Gill of the Christian Interleaf Fellowship. He said that they are vulnerable in the absence of proper scanners, deployment of a handful of policemen who were neither properly equipped nor trained.

He said that the local churches council had requested Islamabad administration to issue licences of at least two weapons for each church.

The capital police, on the other hand, said that protests in general were not allowed due to imposition of Section 144, adding the demonstrations in the city culminated peacefully.

Julius Salik, former federal minister, appealed to Christians to remain peaceful and cooperate with the administration in investigations.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 16^th, 2015.