by p. James Channan OP

Fr James Channan OP, executive director of the Peace Center in Lahore, remembers the anguish that followed the Easter attack. Islamic extremists targeted Christians, but also killed many Muslims. Several of the latter joined in mourning, consoling and encouraging Christians. The priest is organising an interfaith prayer. Meanwhile Church leaders visit the injured and victims’ relatives.

Lahore (AsiaNews) – “On one side,” he noted, “there were joy, family reunions and blissful moments, whereas, on the other side, evil minded militants finalized their evil plan of terrorism,” said Fr James Channan OP, head of the Peace Center in Lahore in his comments about the terrible anti-Christian attack on Easter Sunday, which also touched many Muslims.

In recent years, most anti-Christian attacks came on a Sunday. On this Sunday, the radicals exploded what they called their "Easter bomb”. Yet, many Muslims shared the pain with Christians and prayed for the Catholic community. Fr this reason, Fr Channan wants the leaders of various religions to join in an interfaith prayer. Here are his thoughts.

It was Easter Sunday, 27th March 2016. The Christian community all over in Pakistan was celebrating the great festival. There was a great sense jubilation and all churches were packed with the faithful. Some gathering were so large that many Christians were sitting outside the churches to celebrate Easter Vigil and Easter Masses and prayer services. I too, as a priest, also helped in the Dominican parish of St Luke in Lahore and led three Masses on Easter Sunday. I was overwhelmed by the large number of Catholics gathered in the churches where I celebrated Masses. There was a great sense of joy, peace and spiritual satisfaction renewal. When I returned to my Dominican House, I told the other friars how nice it is that all ceremonies and programs at Holy Week and Easter celebrations had taken place peacefully all over Pakistan and no incident, disturbance or attack on Christians had been reported. We were grateful to God for that.

An hour later, around 6.45PM, news broke on news channels that there had been massive bomb blast in Lahore and that one militant had blown himself up at the Gulshan-e-Iqbal public park in Lahore. And that several people were reported injured in this attack. It was like a bullet out of the blue. I got scared and very shocked that such a violent attack had taken place right in the heart of the city of Lahore and in a public park where people go with their families, especially children, for entertainment. Children love to go to this park for there are many items for their entertainment; they can have a lot of fun by running around and have ice cream and so on. This park is very popular and covers 76 acres.

Since it was Easter Sunday, Christian families – men, women and children – had also flocked to this site to have a fun time. It is very common in Lahore that on festivals such a Christmas and Easter Christians go there with their families. Muslims also take their families on various festivals, holidays on Sundays. So on this day, the 27th of March, Gulshan-e-Iqbal was packed with families.

On one side, there were joy, family reunions and blissful moments, whereas, on the other side, evil-minded militants finalized their evil plan of terrorism. They certainly thought it would be the best time to hit at these blissful moments, kill innocent men, women and children, and thus upset the entire country with their devastating plans. The militants deliberately chose Easter Sunday for maximum damage to Christians, and Muslims as well, who had gone to Gulshan-e-Iqbal. They called it an “Easter Bomb”.

This suicide attack was carried out by an offshoot of a militant Islamic organisation called Jamaat-ul-Aharar, a splinter group of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which has claimed responsibility for this attack. They also said their main target were Christians celebrating Easter.

This tragic incident has left the entire Pakistani nation in a great state of shock and unbelief. This attack was the worst in the history of Lahore – which is considered the cultural hum and most beautiful city of Pakistan. Ironically, the spring festival was in full swing in Lahore when this horrific act was carried out. This attack has resulted in the death of 74 people –men, women and children – and over 350 injured. Some of them are in critical condition, some paralyzed, others wounded. The victims of this barbaric attack include both Christians and Muslims. Apparently, the main target of the militants were Christians.

The Christians in Pakistan belong to the poorest classes, are the most vulnerable, and are a soft target for the extremists. Previously, there have been several other deadly attacks against the Christian minority, also Sunday, our holy day of worship. There was big terrorist attack on St Dominic Church, Bahawalpur, on 28th of October 2001 on Sunday. We had one horrific attack in which 15 Christians and one Muslim police guard were killed. There was the attack on the All Saints Church in Peshawar in Peshawar on the 22nd of September 2013, a Sunday, in which 126 Christians were martyred. There was another deadly attack against Christians in Yuhannabad on the 15th of March 2015, a Sunday, which left 26 Christians dead and dozens injured. And the latest deadly attack was also on a Sunday, the 27th of March 2016. Normally, the militants choose Sunday because they know that Christians gather in large numbers for Holy Mass and Sunday worship.

It is soothing and spiritually inspiring to observe that in spite of several deadly attacks on Christians they remain very firm in their faith. In spite of persecutions and constant suffering and discrimination, the number of Churchgoers in Pakistan is growing and has increased tremendously. Their faith is like a rock that cannot be shaken. We believe that Jesus is our Lord. He suffered, died and rose again on the 3rd day. Christ is Risen from the dead. He is not going to die anymore. We are not afraid of suffering. Christ is an example, par excellence for us: he suffered, died and rose again on the 3rd day. We are followers of a living Lord, Jesus Christ. He lives forever and ever! This suffering does not undermine or weaken our faith. We profess with great commitment that Jesus is Lord!

The incident in Lahore raises many questions. Why are Christians persecuted? Why are vulnerable and harmless Christians targeted? I believe we will receive answers in the coming years. However, all we know now is that persecution is part of our Christian history. This comforts us and keeps us very firm in our faith – like a rock! We believe that one day we will overcome. Our sorrow will turn into joy, darkness into light, and life will triumph over death.

Many Muslims in Pakistan have consoled us. They mourn with us and pray for us. They have condemned this heinous attack with the strongest words possible. They have joined us for candle light vigils, prayer services and have issued press releases. Most Pakistani Muslims are peace loving and condemn all sort of harm, discrimination and attacks against Christians. Only a small number of misguided radical groups attack us and Muslims as well. They attack on mosques, churches, schools, public parks, army, police stations, buses, trains, etc. The aim of militants is to create panic and a sense of insecurity.

It is consoling to see our government take security measure and our bold and daring General Raheel Sharif, Chief of Arm Staff, has ordered all-out military operations in the Province of Punjab to capture the culprits and bring them to justice. The province of Punjab is the most populated with over 100 million inhabitants. Several analysts and even some political leaders have noted that this province fosters many militant groups.

The Catholic Church leadership in Pakistan is doing its utmost. It is mourning the deaths of all, in particular of Christians, by participating in the funerals of those who died in this attack, by visiting the hospitals where inured have been admitted, and by visiting the homes of the grieving families.

I have organised an interfaith prayer service at our Peace Center in which Muslim, Christian, and Hindu religious leaders, human rights activist and promoter of interfaith dialogue, peace and harmony can participate. Our Christian leadership has also called on the government of Pakistan to take measure to stop the killing in the name of religion, arrest the culprits, and bring them to justice.

The present depressing situation in Pakistan calls for a more active and positive role in promoting Christian-Muslim dialogue through seminars and public forums to enhance peaceful co-existence and respect for all. We, as the promoters of interfaith and Christian-Muslim dialogue, have committed ourselves to do more in this field. This way, we become instruments of healing, reconciliation, respect for all, and peaceful co-existence, and help change the mind-set of radicals. This might seem difficult but it is not impossible. It is a great challenge for us.

In our country there is an on-going struggle between good and evil, light and darkness, right and wrong, love and date, peace and violence, justice and injustice, acceptance and rejection. Still, I believe that one day, love, peace, reconciliation and acceptance will overcome.

To achieve these goals we need your prayers, as well as spiritual and moral support. With your support, we shall overcome – some day!

• pakistan
• lahore
• attack
• easter bomb
• peace center
• dialogue
• interfaith prayer