Christian leaders at the protest. PHOTO: HUMA CHOUDHARY/EXPRESS
While staging a protest at the National Press Club (NPC), they recited prayers for those who lost their lives in Lahore. A number of protesting groups from different parts of the city joined members of the United Council of Churches of Islamabad and Rawalpindi at the NPC. The demonstrators were chanting anti-government slogans.
Addressing the protesters, Pastor Samson Sohail said the entire country was suffering due to religious extremism and the community must unite in such times. He announced a three-day fast to express solidarity with the victims of the attack and their families.
“Protests will continue in a peaceful manner until our concerns are addressed,” he said.
Bishop Khalid Pervaiz from United Council Church Rawalpindi told The Express Tribune that the entire country was still in mourning and disappointed by the government’s response.
“The government should take strict actions against the culprits who have accepted responsibility of the heinous crime,” the bishop said. He said that the attacks were increasing a sense of insecurity within minority groups.
“It’s not just Christians, but Hazara Shias and other minority groups that feel the same way,” he said.
Pervaiz said that if the government was not able to deliver they would then approach the United Nations.
Julius Salik, minority rights activist said that the government must bring the criminals to justice.
“We are willing to go on a hunger strike if we have to,” said Master Yousaf Masih Bhatti.
He said that the government had not responded satisfactorily that was adding to frustrations of the members of the community.
Shakeela from Islamabad who had come with her children to the protest said that religious minorities had come to the point of hiding their identity to avoid being targeted.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 17th, 2015.
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