Dubai: Hundreds of Pakistani Christians in Dubai on Tuesday night observed a moment of silence and held prayers for victims of the deadly school attack in the Pakistani city of Peshawar.
They had gathered at the Holy Trinity Church as part of a community event ahead of Christmas, but made use of the opportunity to pay tribute to the dead and renew calls for interfaith unity.
Earlier on Tuesday, 132 pupils and nine adults were killed in an attack by Taliban fighters on the Army Public School in Peshawar.
Also paying tribute on Tuesday night were members of Pakistan’s political and diplomatic community, who thanked the gathering for their prayers.
The audience, estimated to be roughly 300-strong, also heard calls by both Muslim and Christian Pakistanis to end “discrimination” against the Christian minority in Pakistan.
Christians are estimated to constitute less than 2 per cent of Pakistan’s population.
Mohammad Sarwar, governor of Pakistan’s Punjab province, said the Pakistan government needed to crack down harder on those targeting Christians. He cited a series of incidents in which members of the minority were targeted because of their faith.
“These incidents are happening because justice is not being dealt fully in our country. If these people [attackers] were punished, these kinds of incidents may not have been repeated. I promise the perpetrators they will be punished. We’ll make an example out of them so no-one will dare violate Christians’ rights,” Sarwar said in his address. “I hold your children and grandchildren as dear as I hold my own. Christians are discriminated against and the government is responsible to ensure they feel safe in their persons and property.”
Javed Malek, ambassador-at-large of Pakistan to the UAE, thanked the gathering for their prayers for the victims and stressed “Pakistan is for all of us [Muslims and non-Muslim citizens], regardless of religion”.
Malek also condemned Tuesday’s attack, saying “those who attack innocent children are enemies of humanity. But the people of Pakistan are resilient and stand firmly behind their government and armed forces in their fight against extremism”.
He added: “Let me reassure you that [operations against militants] are moving forward successfully and will root out extremism in all its shapes and manifestations, and build a peaceful, prosperous and progressive Pakistan.”
Also present was Noor Ul Hassan Tanvir, president of PML-N, International Affairs, Gulf Region, who wished attendees a merry Christmas and happy new year.
Reverend John Qadir of the New Apostolic Church-Gulf Region, who was the master of ceremonies for the community event, said Christian Pakistanis “stand in equal sorrow with our Muslim brothers and sisters” in the aftermath of the attack. “For all that happened in Peshawar and before it — to Muslims or Christians — we’re in sorrow. In fact, the whole world is in sorrow. But we will not lose hope or give up prayer… long live Pakistan!”
