Update Easter massacre in Pakistan: funerals, chaos, recovery

It was the deadliest terror attack in the history of Punjab, Pakistan’s most populous, and most Christian, state. It was the deadliest in Pakistan since the 2014 massacre of 134 schoolchildren at a military-run academy in Peshawar, in Pakistan’s north-west.

Punjab Assembly member Mary Gill said security around churches was very high in the city, which sources say may be why terrorists targeted the park.

Christian leaders and politicians attended funeral services as social activist Kashif Suba told World Watch Monitor he lost three cousins: Sahil Rehmat, 10, Somal Tariq, 12, and Sahil Masih, 17. They had gone to the park with their parents, he said.

“They were looking at their children when the suicide bomber ripped through the crowd and blew himself up,” Suba said.

Their funeral, he said, was attended by parliamentarians, including Punjab Assembly member Shunila Ruth; Ports and Shipping Minister Senator Kamran Michael; and the Anglican Bishop of Raiwind, Azad Marshall.

Army chief Raheel Sharif issued orders for the intelligence agencies to track down those responsible. “We must bring the killers of our innocent brothers, sisters and children to justice and will never allow these savage inhumans (sic) to overrun our life and liberty,” Sharif was quoted as saying by the Pakistan satellite news channel, Samaa.

In the subsequent 48 hours, at least 5,221 suspects were arrested, Pakistan Today reported.

A long-awaited crackdown on banned organisations in the Punjab has begun. Security agencies identified the suicide bomber as a man named Yousuf, and arrested his brothers in southern Punjab.

A Christian in Lahore told World Watch Monitor: “There is a tangible tension in the air. On one level there is the pain of the stories we are listening to. On the other hand there is the tension in the air that is building up with the intensely charged political situation.”

Various sources confirmed the death of the following Christians:

Junaid Masih (16), son of Imran Masih (Youhanabad, Lahore)

Salamat Masih, son ofYousaf Masih (Youhanabad, Lahore)

Tahir Masih, son of Javed Masih (Youhanabad, Lahore)

Waqar Masih (16), son of Parvaiz Masih (Youhanabad, Lahore)

Wasif Masih (17), son of Amanat Masih (Youhanabad, Lahore)

Sharoon Masih (15), son of Amanat Masih (Youhanabad, Lahore)

Sahil Masih (17), son of Parvaiz Masih (Bahar Colony, Lahore)

John Masih and family (Ferozpur Road, Awan Market, Lahore)

Amir Masih, son of Mungal Masih (Bakar Mandi, Lahore)

Sahil Masih (10), son of Rehmat Masih (Yousufabad, Lahore)

Somal Masih (12), daughter of Tariq Masih (Yousufabad, Lahore)

Arsalan Masih (18), son of Parvaiz Masih (Fatehabad Colony, Lahore)

Nauman Paul (18), son of Daniel Paul (Walton Road, Lahore)

Name unknown, daughter of Rehmat Masih (Kahna Nau, Lahore)

Sagar Masih (17), son of Ashraf Masih (Sheikhupura, Lahore)

Aman John (12), son of Sohail John (Awan Market, Margzar Colony, Lahore

Shan Masih (17), son of Mangal Masih (Babu Sabu, Lahore)

Tahir Masih (19), son of Javed Masih (Youhanabad, Lahore)