Pakistani Christians join prayers and calls for justice after a suicide bomb at a Shia mosque in Islamabad kills 38 and wounds over 160 worshippers.
Newsroom (11/02/2026 Gaudium Press ) In a powerful show of interfaith solidarity, Pakistani Christians have joined prayers and calls for justice following a devastating suicide bombing at a Shia mosque in Islamabad that has left at least 38 people dead and about 160 injured. The attack — claimed by an affiliate of the Islamic State — has reignited national outrage over security failures and the continued targeting of religious minorities in Pakistan.
The death toll rose to 38 on February 9, when three victims, including a 12-year-old boy, succumbed to their injuries, officials confirmed. The suicide bomber detonated explosives inside the Khadija Tul Kubra Mosque in the Tarlai Kalan area during Friday prayers on February 6. Thousands of mourners gathered for the victims’ funerals under tight security the following day.
Among the mourners was Malik Shoib, who said his cousin, 25-year-old Aun Abbas, died while trying to stop the attacker.
“He saved 2,000 worshippers. Without his sacrifice, we could have been holding funerals for many more,” Shoib told UCA News. He called for Abbas to be recognized with a national honor for his bravery, describing the assault as “cowardly” and expressing dismay over the lack of safety in places of worship.
Shia community volunteer Syed Muhammad Aun Kazmi said at least 50 wounded remain hospitalized, including seven in intensive care. He accused the authorities of negligence, noting that no police were present during Friday prayers. “Security guards at places of worship are no match for suicide bombers,” he said, demanding that the government announce compensation for victims and their families.
This was the second major terror incident in the capital in less than six months. In November, another suicide blast near a judicial complex killed 12 people and injured at least 36. Pakistan has been struggling to contain a resurgence of militant violence. The Pak Institute for Peace Studies reported 699 terrorist attacks in 2025, marking a 34% increase from the previous year, with more than 1,000 casualties nationwide.
Since the attack, Shia Muslims have organized vigils, press conferences, and protest rallies across several cities to demand justice and greater protection. Joining them in mourning, Christian leaders have offered prayers and called for unity against extremism.
Father Sarfraz Simon, parish priest of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Rawalpindi, said special services were held in at least 25 Catholic churches on February 8. “We prayed for the repose of the souls of those who lost their lives, for the recovery of the injured, and for peace and harmony in our country,” he told UCA News.
In Lahore, the Presbyterian Church’s Ecumenism and Interfaith Harmony Commission staged a protest outside the Press Club on February 9. The Rev. Amjad Niamat, who chairs the commission, criticized Pakistan’s track record of prosecuting perpetrators of religious violence. “Timely arrests and effective prosecution in cases of attacks on churches could have prevented assaults on other religious sites,” he warned, urging stronger enforcement of counterterrorism laws.
International groups also weighed in. Mervyn Thomas, founder-president of the UK-based Christian Solidarity Worldwide, called on Pakistan’s government to fully implement the 2014 National Action Plan to combat extremism. The plan, adopted after the Peshawar school massacre, has faced criticism for uneven enforcement and limited long-term results.
Pakistan’s Shia community, which makes up about 20% of the country’s 250 million people, has frequently been targeted by Sunni extremist organizations since the 1980s, when military ruler Gen. Zia-ul-Haq’s Islamization policies emboldened hard-line sectarian movements.
As the country mourns the latest victims, voices from across faith lines are urging authorities to act decisively. The message emerging from both Shia and Christian mourning gatherings is clear: without political will and inclusive enforcement of counterterror laws, Pakistan risks further deepening divisions that such extremist acts are designed to exploit.
- Raju Hasmukh with files form UCA News
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