Document
Letter to Prime Minister of Pakistan Nawaz Sharif over bomb blasts in Peshawar, Pakistan.
Your Excellency,
It is with profound distress that we received the news of the three suicide bomb attacks and deadly bomb blasts in Peshawar within a week. First in this series of attacks, a suicide blast in a heritage church killed 85 Christian worshippers on Sunday 22 September, five days later on Friday, 27 September 19 people died when a bus bomb targeted government employees returning home, and the latest on 29 September a bomb blast that ripped through a market in the same city of Peshawar killed more than 40 people. In all these attacks precious innocent lives have been lost. The World Council of Churches (WCC) is deeply disturbed by the present environment of growing terrorism and religious rage and intolerance in Pakistan that has given rise to such attacks.
The WCC has expressed its serious concern about the safety and security of the religious minorities in Pakistan during highly charged situation of growing religious extremism. During my visit to Pakistan in October 2011, I had the opportunity to listen to stories of the plight of Christians in Pakistan and also to understand the fear of religious minorities in the country, who have been living amidst insecurity and lack of adequate protection.
The WCC is deeply concerned by these acts of terror. By expressing our strong condemnation of these acts of terrorism, we express our sincere condolences to and sympathy, especially to the families of those who were killed and injured. We hold all people of Pakistan in our thoughts and prayers.
Your Excellency, we are aware of the difficulties faced by the people of Pakistan and your government as a result of the continuous bombings and growing terrorist activities that have resulted in an increasing number of civilian casualties. We urge your Excellency that all necessary measures be undertaken to provide safety and security of the vulnerable communities, especially the religious communities who are facing constant threat to their lives.
Respectfully yours,
Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit
WCC general secretary