On my last night in Pakistan I was taken out for a meal to one of the local hotels, which proved to be an interesting experience.

Firstly, getting there was precarious. I am glad the driver knew where he was going because I saw no road signs in English and he seemed to take many left and right hand turns. 

 The traffic has to be seen to be believed. Imagine a vehicle carrying goods that appear to be five times its size!  And every second mode of traffic seems to use a donkey – boy donkeys have a hard lot here! 

When we got to the hotel, security was high. I had to walk through a metal detector like those at the airport. In addition there were armed guards on the roof. 

After dinner and back at the Brothers’ community, conversation focused on the suicide bombings at the Islamic university in Faisalabad. The government has ordered the closure of all schools and other educational institutions.  

The situation is tense. Yesterday, the Brothers were at the gates of the school here turning away students and their parents.

There does not appear to be any logic to the targets: cash and carry shops, Co-educational schools, English medium schools, military facilities…. 

It seems that for the next month or so, armed guards will be posted at each of the entries to the Brothers’ schools here in Faisalabad.  

Today I will make the road trip from Faisalabad to Lahore to board a plane to Singapore. 

Your prayers are in need for all of Pakistan.

Peace

Br Mark