Ex-servicemen condemn deadly Taliban church attacks

Lahore: The Pakistan Ex-servicemen Association (PESA) on Monday expressed deep shock and anguish at tragic loss of innocent lives due to deadly Taliban attack on two churches at Lahore.

Lt Gen Ali Kuli Khan and members of PESA said that this was not only a crime against humanity but gross violation of the directives of Islam which make it obligatory to protect life and property of minorities in a Muslim state. All members have expressed sympathies and offer condolences to the bereaved families.

The reaction and protests by Christian community reflects poorly upon State’s responsibility to provide security against terrorist attacks.

They said that military is fighting the war against terrorists in FATA and is reportedly making good progress. Such desperate attacks show that the terrorists are under tremendous pressure.

Total success can, however, come only when our police and allied intelligence agencies effectively play their role to eliminate terrorists’ centres located within urban areas from where such attacks are planned and launched.

When the country is at war, it is necessary that there is political peace and harmony at home. The issue of appointing a judicial commission for investigating irregularities of the last General Elections must, therefore, be resolved amicably, it was observed.

PESA, on its part is doing its best in providing free of cost armed security guards to 160 churches across the country according to the lists provided by Christian missions. These two churches are not covered under those lists, hence did not have PESA’s security guards.

Government must examine security lapse in the very heart of Punjab’s capital city, they said adding that it is, however, praise worthy to note that churches’ own security guards did not allow the suicide bombers to enter the church premises and thus avoided still greater casualties.