Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in Pakistan, has been a target of terrorism for many years. It is located in northwestern Pakistan. Islamist terrorists have turned Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and its frontier tribal area into one of their strongholds. There are hundreds of thousands of Taliban fighters and loyalists in different parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK). It has been observed that the Islamist violence has increased substantially in Pakistan in the recent months.
On Sunday, September 22, 2013, A Church in Peshawar became the target of the Taliban, who are allies of Al Qaeda. After the Morning Prayer service at about Noon, two suicide bombers blew themselves up, killing 122 people in the church compound. According to the presbyter in charge and the Vicar of Peshawar Diocese, Rev. Ejaz Gill said, “Right after the church service, food was being distributed as a thanksgiving by some Church families, when two blasts took place, one after the other.” Rev. Gill was also injured in this attack and further stated that, “We have almost 800 registered members of All Saint Church and on Sunday there were 350 to 400 families attending.”
According to one eyewitnesses report, “Two suicide bombers entered the church compound from the main gate and blew themselves up in the midst of the people.” Another eyewitness stated, “A massive blast threw me on the floor and as soon as I regained my senses, a second blast took place and I saw many wounded people and pieces of flesh all-over.”
After the blast, the injured were shifted to the Lady Reading Hospital in Peshawar but according to Rev. Gill, “The numbers of casualties were increased because medical facilities were not available.” Still, there are large numbers of wounded people in lady reading Hospital. Some of the NGOs shifted injured Victims into private hospitals for better treatment. However, large numbers of politicians and NGOs went there for a photo session only. One of the great problems and obstructions we have is the very people, the leaders of the Christian community, who use the issue of persecution to enrich themselves personally or grandstand but do nothing.
According to our fact finding report, medical treatment for the victims is lacking terribly and Rescue Christians wishes to provide better private medical care for the badly wounded your help would be appreciated. There are about 34 families which have lost their bread earners and there are many children who have lost their parents in this deadly blast. As well as medical treatment we also will need to provide longer term help for the families without bread winners and orphans.
We will publish a more comprehensive report very soon…