KARACHI, Sept 25: Pakistan’s Christian community on Wednesday announced a three-day closure of their institutions to mourn the killings of seven community members, as hundreds staged a rally to condemn an attack on a Christian charity organization here.

Both Catholics and Protestants have decided to undertake three days of mourning over the killings, Sadiq Daniel, Bishop of the Church of Pakistan, told a news conference.

“All Christian institutions will remain closed for three days,” he said, adding that community leaders, bishops and priests will visit members of the bereaved families and participate in condolence meetings.

“We are very sad, so is the rest of Karachi,” the bishop said.

“The administration must evolve an effective strategy to end insecurity among the minority communities.”

He described the attack as an attempt to create a wedge between Muslims and Christians in Pakistan.

Auxiliary bishop Everest Pinto of the Catholic Saint Patrick’s Church, in a statement, appealed to the Christian community to “be patient and peaceful and bear this enormous loss bravely.”—AFP