Security Preparations for Easter in Pakistan

In the last few years Islamists in South Asia have tried to target Christians during Easter. This has been particularly the case in Pakistan. To help provide security to the faithful during Easter, several Christians have volunteered for security duty at Lahore’s Catholic cathedral. Aid to the Church in Need spoke with the volunteer leader.

ACN Staff

Wiliam Arif Khan and security guards at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Lahore. (Credit: Aid to the Church in Need)

In recent years, Christians in South Asian countries such as Pakistan and Sri Lanka have been attacked on Easter by Islamist fundamentalists. On Easter 2016, a suicide bomber attacked the crowded Gulshan-e-Iqbal Park of Lahore in Pakistan. A total of 72 people, many of them women and children, were killed in the attack. In 2017, the Pakistani security forces arrested a teenage girl who admitted she was a member of ISIS and was planning to carry out a suicide bombing in a church in Lahore on Easter. And of course, we all remember the horrific suicide bombing attacks in Sri Lanka on Easter 2019, which killed a total of 269 people.

Security at Lahore’s Catholic Cathedral. (Credit: Aid to the Church in Need)

In preparation for Easter 2021, Catholics in Pakistan are taking measures to secure their safety as they celebrate the Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ. William Arif Khan oversees the 15-man volunteer security team for Sacred Heart Cathedral in Lahore. These young men and teenage boys range in age from 14 to 32, and provide assistance and help to the cathedral’s 12 security guards. William spoke with Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) about the preparations for providing security during Easter:

“The volunteers are equipped with metal detectors. The police have allowed us to keep some licensed weapons on church premises; but mostly either my deputy or I are armed with a pistol. I cater to the volunteers’ needs, like giving them water and juice in the summer and hot tea in the winter. All of them are on the job and dedicate their holiday to the Church.”

William has been providing security at the cathedral for 12 years. The volunteer security team guards the cathedral every Sunday. William has a meeting with his team every two months to discuss security arrangements to help improve measures to protect the faithful during Holy Mass. The team is discussing adding female volunteers to help with searching women entering the cathedral. In 2017, it was a teenage girl who was planning to carry out a suicide bombing during Easter.

A policeman guarding St. John’s Catholic church in Lahore. (Credit: Aid to the Church in Need/Magdalena Wolnik)

William details the cooperation the cathedral receives from the police:

“At least 25 policemen, including two women officials, are deployed for Masses on Easter, Christmas and New Year’s. They train our security volunteers a week before about how to manage a terrorist attack. Walk-through gates and snipers are used to provide security for the Masses. Senior police officers, including the inspector general of the Punjab police, also make surprise appearances at these special Masses.”

“Last Christmas, the Lahore deputy police commissioner distributed packets of sweets among children. Archbishop Sebastian Shaw of Lahore usually honours senior police officials for providing security at event masses. They are offered flower bouquets in the cathedral amid thundering applause and they are invited for lunch at the bishop’s house. Security arrangements have strengthened Church ties with local police.”

Police checkpoint guarding St. John’s Catholic church, Lahore. (Credit: Aid to the Church in Need/Magdalena Wolnik)

There were according to William some misunderstandings when the volunteer security guards were first introduced at the cathedral. There were even arguments over people not wanting to be searched. This was particularly the case with Catholics from other parts of Pakistan attending the cathedral, who were not aware of the security risk in Lahore. Now things have been smoothed out and the security measures are appreciated by the local congregation.

William finished his interview with the following words:

“Everybody is afraid of the terrorists. But we stand for the One who protects us all. Our faith tells us that God won’t let us down. Therefore, we perform our duties with complete passion and avoid negative thinking.”

During Holy Week and Easter this year, please keep persecuted Christians around the world and the work of ACN in your prayers.