ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Monday vowed to bring the culprits involved in the vicious attack on a church in the restive northwestern city of Peshawar to justice.
Two suicide bombers wreaked havoc with two consecutive blasts amongst hundreds of innocent Christian worshippers outside an old church in Peshawar on Sunday, killing 81 persons and wounding over 180 others.
Speaking on the floor of the National Assembly on Monday, the minister said that one militant group has claimed responsibility for the attack and the government would follow the said group. But he also said that it was doubtful because that group has no presence over there.
It is pertinent to mention that the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed responsibility for the Sunday’s brutal attack on the Peshawar church and said it had set up a new faction, called the Junood ul-Hifsa, to kill foreigners to avenge US drone strikes on Taliban and Al Qaeda operatives.
The interior minister said that the repair of the Peshawar Church will be carried out at the government’s expense. He also assured every kind of help from the federal government to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government particularly for treatment of the injured.
The minister informed the house that a meeting of the Christian leaders is being convened within the next few days to discuss a national level plan for security of places of worship and resolution of the problems of the minorities.
He said that a policy‚ programme and network will be prepared for the security of their worship places.
Nisar also appreciated the role of Christian leaders and priests who demonstrated patience and also asked their people to do so.
The minister said that we should give a message of unity on this occasion and should not do politics on such kind of tragedies. He said we have to work together to eliminate the terrorists.
