Punjab: Lorry ploughs into Christian procession during Easter vigil injuring 35
The accident occurred while a group of worshippers were on their way to a Easter vigil. The vehicle drove into the crowd at high speed. Following the incident, the local Catholic community protested the police failure to deploy officers to protect the celebration.
Mariamabad (AsiaNews) – A tragic accident occurred during an Easter vigil around 1:00 am, when a high-speed Shehzoor lorry drove directly into a procession of some 300 people, the resulting chaos saw people run for their life.
The incident occurred on the Mariamabad interdistrict road, on Alipur Road, Punjab province, when a vehicle loaded with chickens suddenly lost control and ploughed into participants, many of whom were injured.
According to rescue sources, 30 to 35 people were immediately taken to various hospitals in Gujranwala, where they are receiving medical treatment.
Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the accident, which has caused deep grief and dismay in the area.
Father Shahrukh Nathaniel, OFM, was on his way to celebrate Easter Mass. Speaking to the media, he explained that the community was taking part in a procession to the church when the accident occurred.
Raising questions about security measures, he stated that the police had not provided protection for this important moment of prayer and that not a single officer was present.
He asked the Ahmadnagar police station to file an incident report and launch an investigation.
The clergyman also called on Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif to take note of the incident and help the community obtain justice by doing what is necessary for all the injured.
Yousuf Masih, a resident of Mariyamabad, whose mother was injured in the accident, described it as a deliberate and planned act, wondering how a driver could fail to see a procession of over 300 people and directly drive into the crowd. “There is no security or rights for minorities in this country,” he lamented.
He also noted that police officers in Ahmadabad, whose station is located just fifteen minutes from the scene of the accident, arrived more than an hour later, despite numerous calls.
The authorities responded slowly, leaving the victims without immediate help at the scene and ordering the Christian community to clear off to let traffic proceed. Only later were the injured taken to hospitals in Gujranwala.
Bashiran Gill, who was admitted to a local hospital in Gujranwala along with her nephew, said that they were praising God and chanting Easter sayings, all happy, when a speeding lorry hit them. She lost consciousness and woke up in the hospital. "It was a sudden event in which lives could have been lost, but thank God no one died," she said.
Kashif Anthony, secretary of the Catholic Commission for Interreligious Dialogue of the Archdiocese of Karachi, called on the government to acknowledge the incident and ensure justice for those involved.
He also urged the authorities to provide immediate medical care and financial compensation to the injured, as some of them suffered fractures and will be unable to work. "These are poor people who live on daily wages and must receive support from the government," he said.
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