PESHAWAR: A prayer ceremony was held at the All Saints Church, Kohati Gate, on Sunday to mark the 11th anniversary of the twin suicide bombings.

Flowers were placed on the memorial and collective prayers were offered on the occasion. Strict security arrangements were made as the law enforcers had sealed the roads leading to the church with barbed wire from all sides and conducted a comprehensive search of all the participants.

Women and children and guests from other districts also arrived in the church.

Prayers were offered for the martyrs.

On this occasion, Bishop of Peshawar Humphrey Sarfaraz Peter told the media said that the Christian community had given great sacrifices in the war against terrorism.

A large number of Christian community members, including priests of different churches, attended the Sunday mass. Paster Shahzad Murad, who led the ceremony, urged the community to work for peace, religious harmony and protection of each other’s rights.

The participants also offered prayers for peace and prosperity of the country.

It may be recalled that on Sept 22, 2013, two suicide bombers attacked the All Saints Church, a parish of the Church of Pakistan, located inside the Kohati Gate of Peshawar, killing 139 church attendees. — Bureau Report