Say ye: "We believe in God, and the revelation given to us, and to Abraham, Ismail, Isaac, Jacob, and the Tribes, and that given to Moses and Jesus, and that given to (all) prophets from their Lord; We make no difference between one and another of them. And we submit to God (in Islam)." (The Qur’an — Al-Baqara: 136)
This is what Allah commanded Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, to declare to the People of the Book. It is a command to Muslims that their relationship with them is to be one of coexistence, tolerance and understanding. The terrible incident in Bahawalpur, Pakistan, on Sunday was an inexcusable violation of that command.
The cold-blooded killing of 18 people there, as they attended a church service, is an abominable crime. The perpetrators of the heinous act, who escaped, have done a disservice to their country. Whoever they are, whatever denomination or religious group they adhere to, whatever their motives, there can be no valid reason, no possible justification, for the evil that they did.
The people who were killed were innocent, and were in communion. They had no idea of what was to come. They were inside the church worshipping, most probably praying to God to bring peace to their own country — and to humanity. To be slaughtered in such a fashion reveals a shocking evil.
The Christians who died during this attack were in all likelihood apolitical. They were simple, hardworking people, whose goal in life was to help their children have a better life. They never even thought that the terror and the violence that has enveloped the world since Sept. 11 could touch their lives. They were far from all of that turmoil — or so they believed.
But peace was not to be their fate. The bullets that mowed them down were also aimed at a country experiencing internal turmoil and agony. War rages across its border and millions of refugees — hungry, disease-ridden and wounded — are fleeing in every direction. All this, considering the volatile political climate at home, does not augur well for Pakistan — a nation caught between the devil and the deep blue sea, one so violent that any political helmsman steers it in the knowledge that the slightest slip, the most delicately erroneous maneuver, could spell disaster for all.
This is the predicament President Musharraf finds himself in. Fighting international terror; being a partner in a US-led coalition; appeasing hard-liners whose only political experience is sloganeering and flag-burning: Musharraf has his hands full.
Given these unenviable circumstances, he is to be commended — walking a tightrope while shouldering the destiny of Pakistan and its people.
The worst thing that could have happened was the tragedy in Bahawalpur.
The Christians of Pakistan are good, hardworking people. They have always been patriotic because they love their country. Never have they been the cause of social disturbance, either amongst themselves or with regard to any other group. Their contribution to education and sport in Pakistan has been extraordinary. Creating, or partaking in, a sectarian conflict is beyond their comprehension.
Those who committed this beastly crime against them should be hunted down, and be given the ultimate punishment. The hearts of all God-fearing and peace-loving people go out to the families and friends of the victims of this vile act.
O ye who believe! Stand out firmly for God, as witnesses to fair dealing, and let not the hatred of others to you make you swerve to wrong and depart from justice. Be just; that is next to piety. And fear God. For God is well-acquainted with all that ye do. (The Qur’an — Al-Maida: 9)
