We don't know why we are targeted say Christians survivors of Gulshan Bomb attack

VISITING THE VICTIMS

Our intrepid officer Mehwish Bhatti has been visiting all the victims of the Gulshan Park Bomb attack, providing trauma counselling, aid and support
to as many as possible.  Already we have spent £3000 but have only just started the essential rebuilding and restoration programmes for many.
Mehwish has described many of the woeful tales of suffering that simply should not have happened. Five teenagers Sharoon Patras, Wasif Amanat, Irfan
Patras and Adnan Masih and Waqar Pervaiz who lived along the same street in Lahore shared friendship, love of their families and a Christian
faith. On Easter Sunday 2016 they set out of their homes early to help set up the church for the morning devotions  The boys cleaned the building,
helped put up the decorations with many other youth and left for home beaming at the glorious look of their beautiful church. They returned home to
shower and change into cleaner clothes and arrived refreshed at their church ready to pray, worship and learn about their Lord, whilst sharing good
fellowship.  After the service they travelled to Gulshan Park full of youthful exuberance excited about the colour and lights of the wonderful
funfair that awaited them. They simply could not wait to meet all their friends and have a night of fun a rare treat in a harsh world. Little did the
unsuspecting boys know that only a few moments later a great malice would be enacted on the them by a pernicious man intent on killing as many people
as possible.  His twisted ideology espoused by hate-filled terrorists intent on hurting Christians would lead to an Easter Day Massacre that would
shock the globe and would mean the end of earthly life of three of these friends.  A sound was heard, some shouting that eventually became recognised
as the blood-curdling chanting in Arabic that precedes every Islamic suicide bomber.  As fear set in the boys realised it was too late to remove
themselves to a safe place, resigned to their fate they shouted out to others to run as the bomb exploded killing Sharoon Patras (16 years), Wasif Amanat (16 years) and Waqar Pervaiz (16 years) immediately.  Irfan Patras (17 years) and Adnan Masih (17 years), somehow survived their friends but the two of them are in critical condition.  They have both not yet wept for their friends as they have not been informed of the deaths of the others as we write for fear it will destabilise their recovery.  A day of great joy and festivity became a ghoulish nightmare that consumes them with grief, anxiety and depression but the pain for the two survivors is still set to get worse when they discover the fate of their friends.

Two of the victims were brothers Sharoon and Irfan Patras  who simply wanted to celebrate Easter with their friends. The Patras family has been
left devastated with the loss of one sosn and another seriously injured in hospital. Irfan described the incident to Mehwish, he said:

"I saw a bearded man who looked overweight.  He suddenly started to shout loudly in Arabic I did not understand it all but knew it to be in Arabic.  I and my friends knew what was going to happen next but it was too late for us to get far away, we started shouting to no avail the incendiary device around the man's waist was set off. We all fell down before the force of the blast it took a few moments for me to recover.  I saw Sharoon had collapsed next to me he was badly injured.  I helped get him into a rickshaw with other people in the area we also helped an unknown girl get into the same rickshaw..  Everyone was intent on getting the injured to hospital so they could get treated quickly. I got into the rickshaw last I was injured and bleeding too and must have collapsed before I got to the hospital as my last memory is waking in the ward."

Irfan collapsed with heavy bleeding and was later found to have shrapnel in his stomach and both his legs. Sharoon died soon after he was brought to
hospital. Patras Masih (40 years) the father is a labourer and his wife, Fouzia Patras (32 years), is a housewife and the two of them are struggling
to cope with the loss of Sharoon and the hospitalisation of Irfan. Irfan is still to face further surgery to remove the deep set ball bearings in his
legs.  Doctors at the General Hospital near Nishtar Colony, Lahore are worried that the operation could cost him his mobility or even worse damage
some of his internal organs.  His family requested prayer from Mehwish.

Mehwish paid the funeral cost of £100 and prayed with the Patras family reading he Bible to them to console them.  Irfan’s surgery has cost £100
which will be covered by BPCA. The General Hospital is meant to be covering all the expenses of the blast victims but apparently as Irfan’s surgery
was completed at night and required pain killing injections during the operation, fees for the service were being charged to his family.  BPCA
stepped in to meet this need and will continue to pay for any additional fees that arise. Irfan’s stomach surgery is complete and there are no exhibited
side effects or further damage from this.

Wasif Amanat Family


The youngest of four boys, Wasif was a very responsible, intelligent and God fearing young man. His family shared with the BPCA that it was the first
time he had gone to the celebration in the park and had been very excited about it. Wasif had spent the whole night in church before Easter and had
also attended the Easter morning sunrise service as well. His mother Zubaida Amanat (42 years) has not been able to sleep as she says she continuously
sees him in her dreams. His father, Amanat (45), a government employee, told BPCA that his sons were four pillars to him and the death of Wasif has
toppled him. The Amanat family shared with Mehwish the shock they felt when they received the initial news of the bomb attack. A neighbour had informed
them of the blast in Ghulshan Park setting off a bit of a panic.  The parents rushed to the park and were there in minutes Zubaida wept as she
saw all the devastation, she could not find her son amongst all the dead bodies, but feared the worst.  They were told that many injured victims
had been placed in taxis and rickshaws and had been taken to the local hospitals.  A sense of hope filled the two parents. They searched through
all the four local hospitals and eventually found his dead body in Farooq Hospital.  Mehwish prayed with the family, provided trauma counselling
using scripture to encourage and console the family.  Before she left Mehwish paid the funeral costs for the family.  

,Amanat Masih, said:

"These murderers have killed my son, for no other reason than his love for the true and living God.  I know my son is in heaven today and I know that God will take care of him.  He was a kind gentle boy who loved all people.  I do not know why Muslim people hate Christians? We do them no harm.  One day they will have to answer for their crimes before God they will then rue the crimes they committed."

Waqar Pervaiz


Waqar Pervaiz has been described as obedient and thoughtful. His father Pervaiz (48 years) said, “I was so glad to see him growing and always expected that there would be a time soon when Waqar would share my responsibilities. I have lost all my strength since his death and all my dreams are dead now.”


Waqar’s eldest sister Nisha (17 years) spoke movingly of how her brother always cared for them and was very responsible. She worries about who will
take her to school every day now and protect her in the future. Mehwish prayed with the family and paid the funeral costs for Waqar.


Adnan Masih

Adnan is in a critical condition in Sheikh Zaid Hospital. He is the eldest of three siblings. His mother Samina (35 years) and father Guddu (38 years)
are praying for their son’s recovery. Mehwish Bhatti went to see Adnan in hospital and prayed over him.  Sadly Adnan is unconscious and in
a coma. His injuries are extremely severe and shrapnel has been lodged in his stomach region and within the area of his brain. Doctors believe It is
highly unlikely that he will survive  Mehwish prayed with the family and consoled them.  The family believe God will revive Adnan and have
asked us to call for global prayer for the return of their son to consciousness and vitality.  Here is our request to you all.  Mehiwsh has
paid ongoing charges for the life support for Adnan and we all believe with your prayers Adnan will walk tall again.

Poignantly, money raised by the boys for funerals in the Christian area was used for their own funerals. God had blessed the boys with beautiful hearts
and a caring spirit. Once, when a funeral after the last Lahore bomb attack took place in their street these five boys were sent to help by bringing
in the catering. These young boys were very disappointed to know that none of the Christian owners of catering firms were willing to help the community
free of cost through such a painful time. The boys had to travel a far distance to bring the catering to  their community and had to collect donations
from people in the community.  From that day, the five boys saved money and purchased their own catering stall and helped by giving food to the
needy deprived members of their community at no charge. They started collecting every penny in a wooden money box after the death of the three of the
boys the box was opened. Their families were very astonished to find a significant amount of 14000 pkr – almost £100. This amount has been divided
among the three of the families of the boys and was used for the funerals – BPCA has .

Report on Falak Family:

One other bomb blast affected family was visited by Mehwish. The family lives in New Kahna which is 20km away from Youhanabad. Falak is a 26 year
old man who works in a garment factory.  In the brutal blast Falak lost his 24 year old wife Annie and has become inconsolable. Their marriage
took place just one and half months ago and Annie had been his childhood sweetheart. This was their first Easter as a married couple and should have
been a milestone moment.  Due to the usual poverty in Pakistan their honeymoon period was simply two days off work spending time with one another.
 This was meant to be an exciting day of God centred fun for the couple who attended church like so many others, gave their praises to God and
prepared to revel the night away at Gulshan Park funfair with other friends. When the bomb hit the two of them were were floored immediately, the force
of the explosion left his ears ringing and despite feeling a lot of pain he went straight to his wife to check to see how she was doing.  But
she neither responded to his shouting or physical touch.  Annie had been killed immediately and his friends have told Mehwish that Falak sat with
her clutching her till the emergency services arrived. 

The shock of Annie's death has caused Falak great trauma.  He is badly injured with serious levels of shrapnel in his left arm and leg which requires
an immediate operation. However, Falak has discharged himself from hospital and has refused further treatment. His reasons for doing so are his displeasure
at life which he no longer wants to live. His family is extremely concerned about his fall into a deep depression.  Mehwish Bhatti has paid for
the funeral costs for Annie and the medical costs for treatment of Falak's injuries.  Mehwish prayed with Falak and his family.  His injuries
prevent him from going back to work and he was caring for his wife and parents.

Many other victims had been visited.