GUJRANWALA, Pakistan (Diya TV) — A truck driver struck dozens of Catholic worshippers during an Easter sunrise procession in Pakistan’s Punjab province in the early hours of Sunday, April 5, injuring at least 60 people and leaving four in critical condition. The incident has shaken Pakistan’s Christian minority community and prompted calls for justice and improved security at religious gatherings.
During an Easter sunrise procession of more than 200 members of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Klasske, Gujranwala, near Wazirabad Road, a driver at high speed steered a truck into the community of worshippers singing and marching toward the church, holding candles. The incident took place around 3:00 a.m.
Fr. Shahrukh Nathaniel OFM, who was leading the procession, described the scene. “The high-speed truck hit the procession as we were marching toward the church. It shocked us all as it was a big procession of more than 200 people holding candles and singing Alleluia hymns. It is impossible to believe that he has not seen the people or has not heard people singing or has not seen the fireworks or heard the loud noise of fireworks,” he said.
A survivor, Bashiran Gill, who was admitted to a local hospital along with her nephew, said that the congregation was praising God and chanting Easter sayings when the speeding lorry struck them. She lost consciousness and woke up in the hospital.
The Rescue Team of 1122 in Punjab Province transported the injured to nearby hospitals for first aid and further treatment. Authorities responded slowly, leaving the victims without immediate help at the scene, and only later were the injured taken to hospitals in Gujranwala.
The question of whether the incident was deliberate or accidental remains officially unresolved. Dr. Rizwan Shahid, President of the Implementation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in Gujranwala, said, “At the moment, we cannot say that it is a planned attack or a mistake by the driver. The police have filed a case, have arrested the driver, and have also taken the truck into their custody, and police officials are investigating the matter.”
Father Nathaniel raised serious questions about security measures, stating that the police had not provided protection for the procession and that not a single officer was present. He called on Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif to take note of the incident and help the community obtain justice.
Fr. Nathaniel said the incident “has shattered the Christian community celebrating the risen Lord and has left them in huge pain and fear.”
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 suffered fractures and will be unable to work.
Pakistan’s Christian community, which makes up roughly 1.6% of the country’s population, has faced a long history of vulnerability during religious celebrations. Pakistani officials expressed condolences, with Anthony Naveed, Deputy Speaker of the Provincial Assembly of Sindh, urging the government to ensure the best possible medical care for all those injured.
The driver remains in police custody as the investigation continues. Authorities have not publicly stated whether charges of negligence or deliberate intent will be pursued. The Christian community has called for a thorough and transparent inquiry into what took place in the early morning hours of Easter Sunday.
