Dear Bishop Swing, Victor, and all other leaders and members of URI:
First of all, I express my sincere gratitude and appreciation to all of those who have sent me condolences messages at the death of over 81 Christians killed in two terrorist attacks in Peshawar. Your messages have given us a lot of consolation and courage to the face the darkness which we find all around.
This evening there was a grant Press Conference at Press Club Lahore which was organised by the URI Pakistan and Pakistan, Majlas-e-Ulama Pakistan and Interfaith Council for Peace Harmony. To my surprise, there were more than 50 Ulamas from all sects and schools of Islam. There were about 20 Ulama sitting next to me and Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad, URI member and former URI Global Trustee. About 30 Ulama were standing behind us for over an hour to express their solidarity with Christian community, who suffered the biggest blow of terrorist attacks against them. There were also representatives of Hindu and Sikh communities; Bishop Sebastian Sahw OFM of the Archdiocese of Lahore was also present. The blood of our Christian martyrs has brought unity among all citizens of Pakistan.
There were over 20 TV channels and more that 80 journalists of press and electronic media. In my long term experience it was the most crowded press conference we ever had. Coming together and expressing solidarity with us of so many Muslims and religious Ulama leaders is beyond expressing in words. We felt so united as members of one human family.
We demanded justice. We committed ourselves to keep on promoting interfaith peace and harmony. We strongly condemned the brutal attack on innocent Christians and we demanded that government must arrest the culprits and bring them to justice.
A couple of TV channels gave live coverage to our crowded press conference.
I will be going to Peshawar tomorrow, 6-7 hours drive from Lahore. Memorial service will be at 4.PM. Several other URI members will also be there.
More later. Please keep us in your prayers!
Sincerely,
fr James Channan OP
