ASIA/PAKISTAN - Attack against the Ismaili community: the condemnation of Bishops

Karachi (Agenzia Fides) - "The killing of innocent people because of their faith is an unacceptable crime. The government has a duty to identify the culprits and bring them to justice": is what says a note from the "Justice and Peace" Commission of the Bishops of Pakistan in the aftermath of the massacre in which 47 Ismaili worshipers were killed (the elderly, men, women and children) and 24 were injured, in Karachi, on May 13. The faithful were traveling on a bus to their place of worship (the "Jamaat Khana" temple) when six gunmen on motorcycles stopped the bus and fired indiscriminately at passengers. The attack was later claimed by the Pakistani Taliban.
As reported in a note sent to Fides the President of the "Justice and Peace" Commission, His Exc. Mgr. Joseph Arshad, National Director, Fr. Emmanuel Yousaf, and Executive Director, the lay Catholic Cecil Chaudhry, express outrage and condemnation "for the horrific attack".
Commission representatives are asking the federal and provincial governments "to take serious and effective measures to prevent such atrocities and provide security to all religious minorities in Pakistan".
Ismailism is a branch of Shia Islam. Its members are also called "Seveners". In Pakistan, out of 180 million people, 96% are Muslims (divided between 70% of Sunnis and 30% Shias), the Ismailis are a small minority of about 500 thousand people. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 15/05/2015)