LAHORE: The National Commission for Justice & Peace (NCJP) has strongly condemned two terrorist attacks on Christians in Quetta in less than two weeks. In a statement issued on Monday, NCJP Chairperson Archbishop Dr Joseph Arshad, NCJP National Director Emmanuel Yousaf and NCJP Exectuive Director Cecil Shane Chaudhry stated that it is the responsibility of state to provide protection and security to its citizens. They said that attacks often target Pakistan’s minorities including Christians, Hindus, Shia Hazaras and members of Ahmadiyya sect. On the other hand Pakistan has been battling terrorist groups and its allies who try to impose fear and instability in the country. Cecil Shane Chaudhry said that Christians were the most peaceful community in Pakistan and they have been under attack for no reason. He demanded that the government immediately take serious notice of this dangerous trend emerging and properly inquire all these incidents and formulate an independent inquiry commission. These incidents show the inability of national action plan to counter extremism and intolerance, he said adding that government must ensure that the perpetrators of these heinous crimes are brought to justice. Emmanuel Yousaf stated that government and law enforcement agencies should take effective steps against religious persecution and terrorist outfits should not be allowed to operate in the country as per instructed by the National Action Plan. He said that the chief justice should take suo motu notice of the target killings in Quetta and ensure implementation of article 36 as per directed by former CJ Tassaduq Hussain Jillani in his judgement given on June 19, 2014. Published in Daily Times, April 17th 2018.