On Sunday, when the world was still recovering from the Brussels attack and suicide bombings in Iraq, panic hit closer home in Lahore, Pakistan. Families celebrating Easter at the Gulshan-e-Iqbal park were torn apart by the tragedy that killed more than 70 and injured 300 others. The crowded park was targeted by Jamaat-ul-Ahrar’s suicide bombers – a fringe group of Taliban. The group claims that Christians were the main target while the Muslims who died were a casualty of war. Christians make up a minority of the population of Pakistan and it irks the extremists who vow that such attacks would continue. Women and kids made up a bulk of the victims and such bombings targeting Christians have become a common occurrence in Pakistan. The increased Islam extremism with wanting a supremacy of Sharia law in Pakistan and accusations of blasphemy against the minority have made the situation worse there. Reuters reports that Pakistani Christians claim that while the politicians are quick to offer condolences they have done little to improve the security and a Pakistani columnist admits that there has been a reduction in the security around the park in the recent past.
There has been a strong rise in internal conflict in every state, not just Pakistan, and religious intolerance, or intolerance in general, always seems to be the core cause. It is astounding how even now, despite an out-pour of support on social media for the victims, a wave of intolerance is still prevalent.
Our hearts go out to the families and friends of the victims.
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