Islamabad: Nine people were killed and more than 40 injured after an Islamic State terror group suicide bomber blew himself up at a church during Sunday mass in the southwestern city of Quetta. Many casualties resulted from a second attacker firing upon worshippers who too was killed.
The bombing occurred at the Bethel Memorial Methodist Church when 400 Christians were attending the mid-day service. According to police, the first attacker blew himself up at the gate of the Church, while the second was wounded in firing and later killed. Moazzam Ansari, the police chief of the restive Balochistan province, said, “There were 400 worshippers inside the church when it came under attack. Had the attackers not been stopped, there could have been hundreds of people killed.”
The Islamic State terror group claimed responsibility for the attack in Quetta, the capital of the restive Balochistan Province. The group’s Amaq News Agency posted a statement that said attackers had stormed a church in Quetta, but gave no further details. The assault raised concerns about the security of religious minorities, especially Christians, in a country with a dismal record when it comes to the treatment and protection of religious minorities, analysts say. “Law enforcement agencies have badly failed in protecting common citizens, and minorities in particular,” said Shamaun Alfred Gill, a Christian political and social activist. Christians make 2% of the country’s population of about 198 million.
Sikhs allege 'forceful conversion to Islam'
The Sikh community in Hangu district of Pakistan's Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province have alleged that they were 'being forced to convert to Islam' by a government official. The community members have lodged a complaint with the Deputy Commissioner Hangu Shahid Mehmood regarding the same. Farid Chand Singh, who filed the complaint has claimed that Assistant Commissioner Tehsil Tall Yaqoob Khan was allegedly forcing Sikhs to convert to Islam.
Singh said the community have been living in the area since 1901 and have never been offended by anyone for religious believes, despite being a hotbed for sectarian conflicts. He said that they were never approached by someone to convert to Islam and added that they have always maintained an amicable relations with the Muslims in the region.
