Two Catholics have given their lives to prevent a bigger massacre. At the funeral, the Archbishop of Lahore called on Christians to react “with prayers only”.
Their names were Akash Bashir (19) and Zahid Yousaf (42). They are the latest martyrs of the Catholic Church of Pakistan. These are the two men who sacrificed themselves in front of St. John’s church in order to stop suicide bombers from blowing themselves up among the faithful attending Sunday mass.
On the day the Christians of Youhanabad celebrated the funerals of those killed in the attacks – an ecumenical ceremony also held in St. John’s church – their sacrifice became an appeal against violent reactions.
“My heart still bleeds. I was celebrating mass when we heard the gunshots and then the explosion. Our two martyrs prevented a massacre: there were more than 3000 faithful inside the church,” Fr. Francis Gulzar, the parish priest of St. John’s, told Vatican Insider. “Christians feel surrounded. Today we are sad and concerned. Partly about how faithful will react. Three more people died in the street protests. We have called on people to abandon violence. The archbishop asked us to calm young people down and to act as examples of faith and charity.”
This was the focus of the message, which the Archbishop of Lahore, Sebastian Shaw – who concelebrated the funeral with the Protestant bishop – addressed to the 10,000 faithful who attended the funeral: “We don’t want a civil war. We Christians are men pf peace. We must not allow this pain to cloud our judgement: we must always look at things through the eyes of Christ and His Gospel.”
“Violence is never the answer. In our suffering we can pray and ask God for consolation,” the Bishop explained to Catholic news agency Fides. As “Pakistani citizens” Christians wish “to live in harmony and to help build a just, peaceful and fraternal nation,” he added.
The funeral took place inside an area protected by more than 5000 agents. There were police blocks around Youhanabad and only residents could attend the funeral where civil authorities were also present.
Institutional leaders didn’t miss a chance to criticise the attitudes of Christians who lynched suspect terrorists after the attacks and have been staging protests across the country for the past two days. In some cases protests have been marked by violence which has led to chaos and the death of three people in Lahore, forcing police to stop and arrest young protesters.
The Pakistani Minister of the Interior, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, stressed that mob lynching equates to terrorism. Also because this led to the death of Muhammad Saleem, who according to relatives is an innocent man, not a militant.
It will be the police’s job to put an end to this uncomfortable backlash which in some way stains the presence of Christians in “the land of the pure”. The head of the Punjab Interior Ministry, Shuja Khanzada, was firm: “The government will punish all those who are guilty of involvement in the attacks but also the lynching.”
“Just as Christians claim their rights as citizens and want protection and equal opportunities, like all other citizens, the same criterion applies to their duties and to justice,” commentators said.
“Christians stand out for the way in which they bear witness to Evangelical kindness, non-violence and love for their enemies, even in tragic moments like this,” Protestant bishop Irfan Jameel said, announcing that a memorial will be raised in honour of “Youhanabad’s martyrs”.
Akash - a former Salesian pupil - and Zahid are model figures: Amid tears, Akash’s mother talked about how she had asked her son one day to stop the voluntary service he carried out in front of the church. “He said he intended to do it for the safety of the faithful and that he didn’t mind risking his life in the process.” Zahid will be remembered as a loving father and husband: “His door was always open. He was there for people, welcoming.”
Obaid Khokhar and his wife Amreen, both Protestant Christians, also died in the attack on Christ’s Church. They leave behind their four-year-old daughter Angelica. Same story: Obaid heard the gunshots and dashed out of the church, leaping onto the terrorist who blew himself up.
