A truck attack during Easter procession in Punjab’s Gujranwala injures 60, sparking grief and calls for justice from Pakistan’s Catholic Church.
Newsroom (08/04/2026 Gaudium Press ) In the week following Easter, the Catholic faithful of the Archdiocese of Lahore remain stunned by a violent incident that overshadowed one of the holiest celebrations of their year. On April 5, 2026—Easter Sunday—a solemn early morning procession in Gujranwala, a village in Punjab province, turned tragic when a speeding truck rammed into a crowd of worshippers, leaving sixty injured and dozens in critical condition.
More than two hundred parishioners from St. Francis of Assisi Church in Klasske, under the guidance of the Friars Minor, had gathered before dawn, singing hymns and carrying candles and palm branches. Their journey toward the local shrine symbolized the triumph of resurrection and peace—a moment that suddenly gave way to terror when the truck drove directly into the crowd. Witnesses insist it was no mere accident. The driver fled without stopping or offering aid, an act that believers say reveals clear intent to harm.
Father Qaisar Feroz, OFM Cap, Executive Secretary of the Episcopal Commission for Social Communication, spoke for the Church in Pakistan, condemning “a criminal and brutal act, a sign of religious intolerance and spiritual confusion.” He called for swift and transparent investigation, urging authorities to treat the matter with the seriousness it demands.
Echoing his words, Father Lazar Aslam, OFM Cap, Coordinator of the Commission for Justice, Peace and Ecology, described the attack as “a hate crime, an act of Christianophobia.” He emphasized the urgent need for comprehensive medical support for the victims and greater accountability from government officials. “The continued silence of the authorities and the attempt to downplay such incidents are as painful as the violence itself,” he said. To him, justice remains an essential step toward restoring hope among Pakistan’s Christian minority. “As long as the lives of Christians are not treated with equal dignity and those responsible are not held accountable, words of peace will not be enough to heal the wounds of the community,” he added. “Authentic interreligious dialogue cannot exist without truth and security.”
In the aftermath, prayers and solidarity flow across parish lines. The faithful of Lahore have joined the Franciscan friars in Gujranwala to support healing efforts and aid the families most affected by the tragedy. Despite the shock and sorrow, their voices echo with resilience and faith. “May the grace of the risen Christ comfort broken hearts and guide the way to lasting justice and peace in our diocese and throughout Pakistan,” the friars said in their closing message.
As Easter’s meaning of resurrection takes on a deeper, painful resonance for Pakistan’s Catholics, the call for justice—and for dignity in faith—remains at the forefront of the Church’s witness.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Fides News
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