The attack underscores the persistent challenges of ensuring safety for religious gatherings in Pakistan, where sectarian violence and gang-related conflicts continue to threaten communities.
Newsroom (08/09/2025, Gaudium Press ) A 42-year-old Catholic man from Pakistan was killed and a teenager wounded when gunmen opened fire on a van carrying 18 pilgrims to the country’s largest Marian shrine near Lahore on September 7, police reported.
Afzal Masih, a father of four, was shot in the neck and succumbed to his injuries en route to a hospital, according to authorities. A 16-year-old passenger was also injured in the attack, which occurred in Sheikhupura, approximately 30 kilometers from the Mariamabad shrine in Punjab province. The pilgrims were traveling to celebrate the feast of the Nativity of Mary, observed globally by Catholics on September 8.
Aurangzeb Mehmood, a relative of Masih who filed the police complaint, told UCA News that the violence erupted after motorcyclists blocked the road, leading to a confrontation. “Masih objected, so they pulled him out of the vehicle before shooting,” Mehmood said.
Police have identified the suspected shooter as Muhammad Waqas, who remains at large. Investigation officer Sakhawat Ali described the incident as a byproduct of a teen gang war, noting that Waqas, a reported drug addict, was targeting a rival group. “The Catholic was caught in the crossfire,” Ali told UCA News. Authorities have launched a manhunt to apprehend the suspect.
Hundreds gathered in Lahore for Masih’s funeral on September 7, coinciding with the conclusion of the annual Marian festival in Mariamabad, held from September 5-8. The pilgrimage, a cornerstone of Catholic devotion in Pakistan, drew approximately 500,000 attendees this year under heightened security, with 2,600 police officers and 600 volunteers deployed, according to the pilgrimage committee.
Father Abid Albert, tasked with overseeing pilgrimage security, expressed grief over the attack. “Police deployed snipers and patrolled routes to the shrine. Sadly, it could not prevent the loss of life,” he told UCA News, urging calm among the faithful.
Mehmood criticized the delayed response of rescue officials, stating, “He was eventually taken to the hospital in a police van but died on the way.” He believes prompt assistance could have saved Masih’s life.
The Mariamabad shrine, located in a Catholic village established in 1893 during British colonial rule, has grown into a national pilgrimage site. The annual festival, held since 1949, attracts devotees from across Pakistan. However, the region’s history of terror attacks has prompted stringent security measures in recent years. In 2024, a vehicle carrying pilgrims was attacked, though police intervention prevented casualties. A separate shooting incident involving Christians in May 2025 further intensified security protocols.
The attack underscores the persistent challenges of ensuring safety for religious gatherings in Pakistan, where sectarian violence and gang-related conflicts continue to threaten communities.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from UCAN News
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