Peshawar church attack: SC seeks report on security of worship places

Published
1

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court Thursday ordered the Attorney General of Pakistan and all provincial Advocate Generals to submit a detailed report pertaining to number of worship places of minorities and their security arrangements.

A three-member bench, headed by Chief Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani, resumed hearing of a suo motu case on Peshawar Church attack.

The attack on All Saints church in the provincial capital of the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province after a service in Sep last year is believed to be the deadliest ever to target the country’s small Christian minority killing more than 80 people.

During the hearing, the chief justice insisted to submit provincial reports regarding the number and security arrangements of minorities worship places.

He expressed annoyance over absence of the Advocate General Punjab, saying it is unfortunate that section officers represented the province despite the court direction.

Jamil Sheikh, a section officer of the Punjab home department appeared before the court to represent the province and Advocate Generals of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh assured the court that reports will soon be submitted in the court.

Dr Ramesh Kumar, a representative of Justice Help Line presented the problems of the minorities in writing.

Upon this, the court ordered to include these problems and complaints in the record and also advised Sindh government to submit a detailed report in this regard during the next hearing.

The court also asked about the government’s announcement of compensation to the victims of church blast.

Advocate General KP replied that the governor had announced Rs100 million and Rs60.7 million had already been distributed among the affectees. He, however, told the court that the province so far could not receive Rs 100 million announced by the federal government.

Later, the court adjourned the hearing till February 20.

Opinion

Editorial

Fixing bond markets
Updated 01 Oct, 2026

Fixing bond markets

Pension funds, insurance companies, mutual funds, retail investors, and eventually, foreign investors must become bigger participants in the market.
Call centre rackets
01 Oct, 2026

Call centre rackets

A NUMBER of recent raids conducted by the authorities in different cities point to the growing threat fraudulent ...
Homeward bound
01 Oct, 2026

Homeward bound

FIVE months after Somali pirates captured an oil tanker carrying a 19-member multinational crew, Somali maritime...
Kashmir unresolved
Updated 30 Sep, 2026

Kashmir unresolved

The just solution lies in India addressing the issue through a trilateral dialogue involving the legitimate representatives of the Kashmiri people and Pakistan.
Water shortage
30 Sep, 2026

Water shortage

THAT the country is entering the Rabi season with an anticipated water shortage of nearly 25pc, the lowest carryover...
Young hearts
30 Sep, 2026

Young hearts

THE observance may have passed, but the message of World Heart Day should not fade with it. The occasion is a useful...