MY condolences and heartfelt sympathies to our Christian brothers and sisters who lost their loved ones in the heinous attack on a church in Quetta. That barbaric militant outfit, IS — which has nothing to do with Islam — has claimed responsibility for this dastardly and inhuman act.

These militants are going against Allah Almighty who in the Holy Quran

(22:40-41) asks Muslims to protect all places of worship, explicitly mentioning churches. The extremists are also acting against the Holy Prophet (PBUH) Muhammad’s instructions that mandated the full protection of Christians from any act of aggression from Muslims. Indeed, St Catherine’s monastery in Mount Sinai houses a facsimile of the Holy Prophet’s (PBUH) letter in this regard.

Our religious leaders must speak out not only against acts of terrorism, but also those interpretations of Islam that are incompatible with the values of religious tolerance. By condemning terrorist acts and forcefully rejecting the extremist ideology that promote these acts, the ulema can play a significant role in the war against terror.

I urge the government to extend complete protection to all minorities and their places of worship.

Nasir Ahmad, MD

New Jersey, USA

(2)

HOW many more innocent people will lose their lives before the scourge of terrorism is eliminated permanently from our country?

The attack on a church congregation in Quetta on Sunday is a deplorable deed, and no words are too harsh to condemn it.

Those that indulge in such behavior have no religion let alone Islam which teaches all to be in peace and harmony.

My prayers are with those who lost their loved ones, and my prayers for the early recovery of those injured.

Ali Jan Mehr

Mekran

(3)

THE terrorist attack on a church in Quetta has been roundly condemned by all Pakistanis in the most stringent manner. The nation will show that it is united and will not tolerate those who try to sow dissension amongst us in the name of caste, creed and colour.

The government must deal sternly with those who kill and maim in the name of some discredited ideology preached by a few misguided souls.

The sympathies of all Pakistanis are with their fellow Christian citizens in Quetta in their hour of trial.

Ghulam Murtaza

Larkana

Published in Dawn, December 19th, 2017