PAKISTAN: Church condemns fresh attack on Muslim minority

The Catholic Church in Pakistan has expressed its solidarity with the Ismaili Muslim community, after an attack left 47 dead - including senior citizens, women and children - and 24 injured. According to reports, six unidentified assailants on motorbikes opened fired on a bus yesterday, (Wednesday 13th May), which was going to the Shi'a group's place of worship in Karachi.

The Catholic Church in Pakistan's National Commission for Justice and Peace (NCJP) strongly condemned the attack.

A joint statement from Bishop Joseph Arshad (NCJP chairman), Fr Emmanuel Yousaf Mani (NCJP national director), and Cecil Shane Chaudhry (NCJP executive director) said that killing innocent people on the basis of their faith is unacceptable.

They called on the government to investigate the attack and bring the shooters to justice - demanding both federal and provincial government take measures to prevent such atrocities from occurring again.

Bishop Arshad and his NCJP colleagues extended their condolences to the victims' families praying that may God give them the strength to bear their loss. They also wished a speedy recovery to those injured in the attack.

Source: Aid to the Church in Need/NCJIP