Truck attack on Easter Sunday Sunrise Procession in Pakistan leaves 60 injured, 4 critical

The Easter Sunday sunrise procession of a Catholic community in Gujranwala, the Punjab province of Pakistan, was rammed into by a truck driver, injuring 60 people, and four are in critical condition.

On April 5, 2026, during an Easter sunrise procession of more than 200 members of the St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Klasske in 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.

Fr. Shahrukh Nathanial OFM, leading the procession, called it a very tragic and saddening incident that took place around 3:00 a.m.

“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,” Fr. Shahrukh Nathaniel said.

The Catholic priest has called on the Prime Minister of Pakistan, the Chief Minister of Punjab Province, and security forces to inquire into the matter on a priority basis and bring justice to the community. He also appealed for urgent and immediate medical care for the people severely injured during this attack, especially for those critically injured.

According to the priest, in past years, the security forces have accompanied the Easter sunrise procession, but they were not present this year for protection.

“This incident has shattered the Christian community celebrating the risen Lord and has left them in huge pain and fear. We are praying for the speedy recovery of the people injured during the incident,” Fr. Shahrukh Nathanial concluded.

The Rescue Team of 1122 in Punjab Province transported the injured to nearby hospitals in the surrounding area for first aid and further treatment.

The news of the truck attacking the Easter sunrise procession spread fast around the country and in the world, and Christian communities offered special prayers during Easter Sunday Holy Masses for the community attacked, especially for those severely injured and in critical condition.

Dr. Rizwan Shahid, President of the Implementation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (IUDHR) in Gujranwala, called this incident very depressing and terrible.

“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. I wish that the driver would have been careful while driving, but it is true that he was driving at high speed in the early hours of the morning,” Dr. Rizwan Shahid said.

Anthony Naveed, Deputy Speaker of the Provincial Assembly of Sindh, has also expressed his grief over the tragic incident. In unity with the Catholic community attacked, he urged the government authorities to make every effort for the immediate and best medical care for the people injured.