ICC Note:
Christian leaders in Pakistan have strongly condemned today’s terrorist attack on the Bacha Khan University located in Charsadda in Pakistan’s KPK Province. According to reports, at least 19 people have been killed as well as over 60 others injured. The Pakistani Taliban has reportedly taken responsibility. The attack can only a month after the first anniversary of the December 2014 attack on the Army Public School in Peshawar that claimed the lives of over 130, mostly children. The Pakistani Taliban has also perpetrated attacks on Pakistan’s Christian minority. In September 2013, suicide bombers attacked All Saints Church in Peshawar killing over 100 Christians leaving a worship service. Last year, militants attacks two churches in the Christian majority neighborhood of Youhanabad in Lahore killing almost 20.
1/20/2016 Pakistan (NCJP) – The National Commission for Justice and Peace, a rights based organization of Pakistan Catholic Bishops’ Conference, strongly condemns the tragic attack of shooting and bombing on innocent students and teachers of Bacha Khan University Charsadda on January 20, 2016. As per the reports, TTP has taken the responsibility of killing 21 young people and over 60 are reportedly injured.
Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Yousaf Mani and Executive Director Mr. Cecil Shane Chaudhry said in a joint statement that killing innocent students is unacceptable. The government of Pakistan is ranked second in the world among the countries with highest school dropout and an international organization research studies show that only 5% of the students reach higher education in Pakistan. It is essential for the government to take necessary action to provide safety and security to all educational institutions in order to protect the brilliant minds working to shape a better and intellectual Pakistan. They stated that the Commission and the Catholic Church stand firmly with the people of Charsadda in their hour of grief and further pleaded to the government of Pakistan to bring the perpetrators to justice.
This tragic event has caused shock and bereavement in different parts of the country. The uncertainty of our life is sympathetic however we pray for the innocent victims of this horrific attack and for their families that may God grant them the strength to cope with this irreparable loss.
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