Christians protest church bombing, demand justice

Christians and civil society groups today held protests across Pakistan demanding that the perpetrators of the deadly Peshawar church bombing which claimed 81 lives be brought to justice.
Protests were held in Karachi, Islamabad, Lahore, Faisalabad, Hyderabad, Noweshera and other cities. In the federal capital, protesters blocked the expressway.
In Karachi protests were held in several areas of the city, including Numaish Chowrangi and Isa Nagri.
All missionary schools and colleges were closed in Karachi, Pakistan's largest city where three days of mourning has been announced. Christians protested in different areas of Hyderabad as well.
Eighty one people, including dozens of women and children, were killed and over 140 injured yesterday when two Taliban suicide bombers targeted the All Saints Church in Peshawar.

This was the worst ever attack on Christians, who form less than two per cent of the population in Pakistan.

The Jandullah group, a faction of the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it was carried out to avenge US drone strikes.
Protesters, demanding that those behind the terrorist attack be held responsible, burnt tyres, pelted stones and blocked traffic.
In Tando, Muhammad Khan and Jamshoro, protests were held outside the press club.
Protesters also held a sit-in outside Faislabad's press club.
The Christian community also protested in Bahawalpur, Gujranwala, Sahiwal, Mandi Bahuddin and Hafizabad.
Though Minorities are targeted by sectarian groups, the attacks on Christians have been less in the last one decade.

In March, a Muslim mob attacked a Christian colony in Lahore and torched two churches and over 100 houses. Christians often also find themselves accused under the controversial blasphemy law.
In March 2002, five persons, including three foreigners, were killed and 45 injured when terrorists attacked a church in the diplomatic enclave of Islamabad.
The attacks on Churches first began soon after the the US attack on Afghanistan following the twin tower bombings.