PESA terms church carnage a crime against humanity

Ex-Servicemen to guard churches free of cost

Rawalpindi: Sept 24

The Pakistan Ex-Servicemen Association (PESA) on Wednesday expressed deep shock and sorrow at the most cowardly terrorist attack on a church in Peshawar.

It condemned it unequivocally terming it a gory crime against humanity committed in the name of Islam which amounts to blasphemy as it was in the gross violation of the Holy Quran and teachings of Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace be Upon Him).

To quote Our Prophet (PBUH) in message to the monks of Saint Catherine's Monastery, Mount Sinai: that shows his regards for Christians. “Verily, I defend them by myself, the servants, the helpers, and my followers, because Christians are my citizens; and by Allah! I hold out against anything that displeases them. No compulsion is to be on them. Neither are their judges to be changed from their jobs, nor their monks from their monasteries. No one is to destroy a house of their religion, to damage it, or to carry anything from it to the Muslims’ houses. Should anyone take any of these, he would spoil God’s covenant and disobey His Prophet”. Then we have Meesaq-e-Madinah and Holy Prophet’s last sermon as injunctions about treatment with religious minorities.” unquote

The shocking incident amid tidal wave of violence and extremism, took place due to security lapse therefore PESA has decided to take immediate measures to boost up security of churches, particularly on Sundays; it was agreed during a meeting with Lt. Gen Ali Kuli Khan in the chair.

Vice Admiral Ahmad Tasnim, Lt. Gen Naeem Akbar, former ambassador Salim Nawaz Gandapur, Brig Mian Mahmud, Brig. Riaz Ahmed, Brig. Masud ul Hassan, Major Farouk Hamid Khan, and others were also present in the meeting.

Gen Ali Kuli Khan asked a Group of two private security companies having largest number of ex-servicemen to provide free of cost security on Sunday during church services to all the churches that they operationally could manage across Pakistan. The group readily agreed to do this national service.

All these ex-servicemen who will be the guards at the churches are members of PESA.  Brig (Retd) Simon Sharaf, will act as coordinator for PESA with churches all over the country.

PESA members said that they would continue to do their best for the security and wellbeing of the country and people of Pakistan.

They urged upon the government to ensure that culprits are dealt with an iron hand. It is very sad reflection upon the administration that no one responsible for Gojra massacre or Badami Bagh looting and arson of Christian property has been convicted so far, they observed.