More than 70 people, Christians and Muslims, were killed and over 350 seriously injured in the blast at a leisure park. A Taliban splinter group admitted responsibility for the attack which was deliberately targeted at the Christian community.
A church leader in Lahore, who previously expressed to us fears of such an attack, told us: ‘Once again the Christian community is targeted on Easter Sunday.
‘Gulshan-e-Iqbal is a very attractive and popular park in the northwest of Lahore and on special occasions this park is always overcrowded with children and parents. On Easter Day after church services many Christian families from all sides of Lahore city went to this park to have some recreational time with their children.’
Most of the dead and injured were women and children.
The church leader added: ‘Please continue to pray for the bereaved and grieving. We need more prayers!
Also on Sunday thousands of Islamist activists went on the rampage in the capital, Islamabad. At least three people were killed and several others injured in violent clashes with government forces. The protesters demanded the immediate execution of Asia Bibi, a Christian whose appeal against the death sentence for blasphemy is pending in the Supreme Court.
- Pray for protection and peace for the Christian community in Lahore and throughout Pakistan. Remember especially those bereaved or injured in Sunday’s attack.
- Pray that Pakistan’s Government would take decisive action to tackle terrorism.
- Pray that Christians in Pakistan would be able to respond in love to those who seek them harm and that those who persecute them would be touched and changed by the gospel of Jesus Christ.
- Ask God for protection and peace for Asia Bibi and other Christians in prison for their faith in Pakistan, and for their families, and pray too that those unjustly imprisoned would be released.