Islamabad, Ocober 08, 2013: The Anglican Bishop of Peshawar, Mgr. Peter Humphrey
Sarfraz, leader of the "Church of Pakistan", has released the complete list of the
dead and wounded in the attack carried out on 22 September to the Church of "All Saints"
in Peshawar: as reported to Fides, the attack of two Islamist suicide bombers caused
the death of 126 Christians and 166 wounded.
In the church there is a memorial
poster with pictures of the identified victims. In the courtyard outside the Church,
site of the first explosion, a small shrine commemorating the dead was created.
Mgr.
Peter Humphrey Sarfraz communicates in a note sent to Fides: "I am still shocked by
the many human losses: this is the worst accident affecting a church in our diocese.
The attack was a cowardly act of violence against innocent Christians, who are true
martyrs. Christians consider themselves true Pakistanis: we have sacrificed a lot
for this country.
The provincial government has promised to give compensation
of 500,000 rupees (approximately $ 4,70 ) to the families of the victims and 200,000
rupees (about 1,900 dollars) for the survivor, who are severely disabled. So far,
the victims have received no compensation".
As reported by Anglican Pastor
Ijaz, who led the liturgy in the church on the day of the explosion, about 500 Christian
families reside near the Church. The residents are mostly poor and marginalized citizens.
Many of them work as health workers or workers who are underpaid and exploited. With
regards to the massacre, note local sources of Fides, there are still controversies.
Many of the wounded, complain the local faithful, could have been saved. Many died
due to the lack of emergency treatment and shortage of hospital staff. The victims
were placed in coffins without any identification and the families of the seriously
injured were not warned. Families, therefore missed the opportunity to pay their last
respects to their loved ones, who then died. An accident, which has caused anger and
rage and testifies the serious superficiality of hospitals: two injured were mistakenly
considered dead and placed in coffins. In Peshawar, one wonders: if they had been
Muslims, would this have happened? (Source: Agenzia Fides)