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The NCCP includes the Church of Pakistan, Presbyterian Church, Salvation Army, and Association of Reformed Presbyterian Churches and accounts for nearly half of the three million Christians in Pakistan.

Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf condemned the attack, blaming it on "trained terrorist organizations."

"The methods used and the inhuman tactics employed clearly indicates involvement of trained terrorist organizations bent upon creating discord and disharmony in Pakistan where Christians and Muslims have always lived in peace with mutual respect for each other," Musharraf said in his condolence message, according to the daily newspaper Dawn.

Mall said that the federal government has announced that it would offer 100,000 rupees (U.S.$1615) to relatives for each of those killed. The provincial state government of Punjab will contribute 200,000 rupees each (U.S.$3230) to the victim's families, as well as a smaller amount to the injured.

However, Victor Azariah, NCCP general secretary, said that the Christians in Pakistan need "more than monetary compensation. This is the worst attack on us [Pakistani Christians] in our history. We want the government to try its best to keep us safe."

The NCCP will hold an emergency meeting on October 31 to decide on church strategy for dealing with the "present situation," he added.

The Christian Liberation Front, an ecumenical advocacy group supported by both Catholic and Protestant churches, said that Christians "will not keep silent about this tragic, historic incident."

In a letter to President Musharraf, the World Council of Churches (WCC), a fellowship of 342 churches worldwide, expressed concern "about the safety and security of the Christian minority in the present highly charged environment of religious intolerance."

In a statement released today, The National Council of Churches in India (NCCI), urged the government to take "steps to protect the minorities" in Pakistan. "We also affirm our solidarity with the National Council of Churches in Pakistan in this hour of crisis."

Copyright © 2001 ENI.

Christians massacred in Pakistan — BBC

Gunmen Kill 16 at Pakistan Church — Associated Press

Pope Says Pakistan Church Attack an 'Evil Act' — Reuters

'Trained terrorists' behind Pakistan church slayings — BBC

Congregation Mourns Slain Christians — Associated Press

Pakistan tightens church security — Christian Science Monitor

Slain Christians mourned in Pakistan — BBC

Pakistan unrest sparks concerns — USA Today

At least 16 Gunned Down in Pakistani Church — Washington Post

Pakistani Christians Mourn Friends — Associated Press

For more articles on the Oct. 28 massacre, see Yahoo! full coverage.

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October (Web-only) 2001, Vol. 45