Christmas in Pakistan was modest this year as Christians in Karachi toned down their celebration out of respect for the 148 people who were slain in the Peshawar school attack earlier this December.
During the midnight and morning mass on Christmas Day, pastors and priests from different churches led their congregations in prayer for the victims and survivors of the horrifying massacre, as well as their families.
At the Holy Trinity Cathedral, Bishop Sadiq Daniel proclaimed that the deaths were an unforgettable loss, adding it was the community's responsibility to offer solace to the families of the victims.
According to the church's Reverend Shahid Sabir, the bishop prayed for the families. He also added that all music programmes were cancelled and all Christmas lights foregone in unity with those in mourning.
In the United Presbyterian Church of Pakistan in Essa Nagri, the Christian community held special prayers at midnight in remembrance of the Taliban school attack victims, as well as Aasia Bibi, a Christian couple killed in Kot Radha Kishan, and victims of the twin bombings at the All Saints Church in Peshawar last year.
Reverend Rafaqat Sadiq announced, "We cancelled all major events which take place at schools and churches this Christmas. There will be no Christmas mela this year."
Pakistani Protestants also mellowed down their holiday celebrations.
According to Reverend Daniel Fiaz, the dean of the Protestant branch of churches, "We also held a special prayer for the country and mourned the children who lost their lives in the Peshawar incident.
"We advised the parish to avoid celebrations and singing of carols at homes in order to observe the day with simplicity."
On December 16, seven members of the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan stormed the military-run Army Public School in Peshawar and opened fire indiscriminately. Of those who were killed, 132 were schoolchildren. The murder of the children stunned the world and prompted global revulsion.
Azam Basti's Father Nazar Nawab from the St Paul's Church said during mass on Christmas Eve, "Because of this incident [Peshawar attack], the whole world is in pain. How can we be joyous?"
