On Sunday 15th March 2015, the Catholic Church and Christ Church, Lahore were devastated by suicide bombers. Leaving at least 10 dead and dozens injured.
I despair about the level of violence against religious minorities in Pakistan. Internationally it sends out the message that Pakistan remains a dangerous terrorist state, where extreme religious intolerance is accepted as the norm. It is a no go area for many foreigners and overseas Pakistanis.
I appeal to the intelligent citizens of Pakistan, we must remember the dead of the minorities in the same way we did the victims of the Peshawar school attack on 16th December 2014.
Is not the spilt blood of a Christian, Shia, Ahmadi or Hindu all the same? Do their families not grieve in the same way. We are all human beings, we are all in this World together.
We would like to send our deepest sympathies to all the parents and families affected by this tragedy in Lahore. The appalling attack is a horrific act of evil.
No religion of the world allows this type of violence. These cruel acts are totally unacceptable in Islam. Our society must not dehumanise this situation and just move on.
Lets all fight in Pakistan and internationally for Peace, loyalty, respect and justice. We together can build hope for a brighter future.
God Almighty indeed has the power to change Pakistan’s downward spiral, but first the people of Pakistan need to make changes on an individual and community level. We must rid ourselves of religious intolerance which has become deeply ingrained and acceptable in our society. Please give our children hope to grow up in a better, improved, more tolerant Pakistan.
I end with the motto from the National Peace Symposium in London, ‘LOVE FOR ALL HATRED FOR NONE’.
Dr. I Malik
Nottingham UK
