Home » News » Tributes to Christian man killed in Peshawar

Tributes to Christian man killed in Peshawar

Tributes have been paid to a Christian minister who was killed yesterday (Sunday, 30th January) in Pakistan after dedicating his life to persecuted and other suffering Christians.

Gunmen on motorbikes shot William Silraj in the head and chest as he was driving away from Sunday service at a church, outside Peshawar city centre.

Also in the car was the Reverend Patrick Naeem, pastor-in-charge of the (Protestant) Church of Pakistan parish, who was rushed to hospital with gun wounds but was today (Monday) described as stable.

News channels showed emergency services taking Mr Silraj out of the car and people chanting “Long live Jesus Christ”, as they carried him to his home.

Picture: William Silraj (left) and Rev Patrick Naeem

Martyrs of All Saints’ Church, in Chamkani, was set up after the September 2013 twin suicide blast at the city’s All Saints’ Church, in which more than 120 people were killed and more than 250 injured.

Mr Silraj, a retired teacher with two grown-up daughters, lost his son-in-law in the All Saints’ Church attack and afterwards committed his ministry to reaching out to survivors and their families.

Qamar Rafiq, a UK-based Christian originally from Pakistan and a close friend of Mr Silraj’s family, spoke to many parishioners at Shodha Church and said people were “shocked”.

He added: “All of those supported by William Silraj are very sad at the loss of a very great and passionate man who was willing to reach out to Christians who had been through such a difficult time after what happened at All Saints’ Church.

“After what happened [at All Saints’], he would be knocking on the doors of victims’ families, praying with them and reassuring them of his support.

“He was always willing to reach out to communities in the narrowest of streets, no matter how dangerous the area.”

Following yesterday’s attack, a police investigation has got underway after the submission of an FIR (First Information Report).

As yet, nobody has claimed responsibility for the attack but speculation is mounting that the extremist group Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) may be behind the violence.

Church of Pakistan Bishop Azad Marshall tweeted: “We demand justice and protection of Christians from the Government of Pakistan.”

Police officer Abbas Ahsan was quoted as saying: “It was a terrorist act… We are determined to protect minorities.”

Mr Silraj’s funeral was due to be held today (Monday).

Don't miss the latest updates!

Gaza: First step towards peace after 733 days of war

While indirect talks are taking place in Egypt between Israeli…

Rome to host official launch of Religious Freedom Report 2025

Religious and public leaders will be gathering on October 21…

Papal envoy carries solidarity to the Christians of war-torn Sudan

Archbishop Séamus Patrick Horgan, Apostolic Nuncio to South Sudan, has…

In the east of Burkina Faso, still many problems as term starts

While the security situation in Burkina Faso has improved slightly,…

From Angola to Vietnam, enthusiasm with “One million children praying the Rosary” campaign

ACN’s yearly campaign, added to the Holy Father’s appeal to…

Church clings to life amid chaos in Gaza

Aid to the Church in Need echoes Pope Leo XIV’s…

List of News

Gaza: First step towards peace after 733 days of war

While indirect talks are taking place in Egypt between Israeli envoys and Hamas, the hope for a beginning of peace is cautiously laying roots in the diocese of the Holy...

Fr Hugo Alaniz recounts a night of explosions and fear in Aleppo: “People are very afraid, we don’t know what is going to happen”

In the midst of a new wave of fighting, the Argentine priest describes hours of anguish in Aleppo. His parish has once again become a refuge for dozens of families....

Rome to host official launch of Religious Freedom Report 2025

Religious and public leaders will be gathering on October 21 at the Pontifical Patristic Institute Augustinianum in Rome for the worldwide presentation of the latest edition of the Report on...