ASIA/PAKISTAN - 20 victims of the attacks on the churches in Youhanabad

Lahore (Agenzia Fides) - There are 20 victims of the attacks on the churches in Youhanabad which occurred on March 15: Yesterday, the Christian community celebrated the funeral of another of the wounded, Shamim Bhatti. Meanwhile, there is great disappointment regarding the news that Sohail Johnson and his brother Yousaf, committed in the Ong "Sharing Life Minister Pakistan", are accused of being the perpetrators of the lynching of two Muslims following the attacks. The Pakistani NGO is partner with international groups such as "Open Doors" or "Barnabas Funds". The police has issued arrest warrants thanks to the help of footage shot in those tragic moments from eyewitnesses.
"Because of this barbaric and illegal act, today the NGOs that deal with Pakistani Christians are suffering", says to Fides Christian lawyer Sarda Mushtaq Gill. "The work of NGOs and human rights defenders is constitutively non-violent and peaceful: we promote peace, love, truth and patience", says Gill, who works in the Ong LEAD (Leagal Evangelical Assistance and Development).
According to official sources of the police, the Christians arrested as suspected of lynching are 106. With the ongoing investigations, slowly some are being released. In a note sent to Fides, Ataurehman Saman, coordinator of the publications of the National Commission "Justice and Peace" of Pakistani Bishops (NCJP), says: "The nation has paid a tribute of 60 thousand lives to terrorism and extremism. In the world Pakistan is considered a den of terrorists. The only way to salvation is to ensure safety to innocent people and put an end to a policy of denial or cover the wrongdoings of the country". (PA) (Agenzia Fides 30/03/2015)