A time of spiritual celebration turned into a scene of devastation early Easter Sunday when a speeding cargo truck plowed into a Christian sunrise procession in the Wazirabad district of Punjab, Pakistan. The incident has left one man dead and more than 60 people injured, sparking outrage over the safety of religious minorities.

The tragedy occurred around 3:30 a.m. on April 5 as about 200 members of the St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church were holding a “pre-dawn” service. Participants were singing hymns and carrying candles toward the church near the Alipur Chatha-Gujranwala road when a light commercial truck, known locally as a Shehzore, struck the crowd at high speed.

The impact killed Irfan Masih, a local laborer, and sent dozens more to the hospital. Eyewitnesses described a horrific scene where worshippers were forced to overturn the vehicle themselves to rescue those trapped beneath it.

The crash has sparked a serious dispute between residents and the police. The police said they were unaware of the procession and therefore neither provided security nor blocked the road. However, church leaders said this is not true; they insist they told the police in advance and were promised protection that never materialized. Many survivors are also angry because it took the police nearly an hour to arrive, even though the police station is only 10 minutes away.

Father Shahrukh Nathaniel, who was leading the hymns when the truck struck, expressed disbelief that the driver could have missed a large, candle-lit crowd. While the driver fled the scene, his helper was detained, and the vehicle was impounded.

While police have registered a case against the driver, Muhammad Bilal, and his assistant, the motive remains unclear. Law enforcement is currently investigating the crash because of reckless driving (Sections 337G and 279 of the Pakistan Penal Code). However, some community members believe the act was intentional, noting that the truck appeared to veer deliberately into the candle-lit crowd, even though the road ahead was clear.

As the community mourns, there is a strong hope that the authorities will conduct a fair and honest investigation. The families of the victims are calling for true justice to ensure the driver is held responsible for his actions.