Fr Ángel Fernández Artime, Rector Major of the Salesians, writes in the book’s presentation:
On March 15, 2015, while Mass was being celebrated at St. John's parish, the group of security guards composed of young volunteers, of which Akash Bashir was a member, were faithfully guarding the entrance. Something unusual happened that day. Akash noticed that a person with explosives under his clothes was trying to enter the church. Akash restrained him, spoke to him, and impeded him from continuing, but realizing that he could not stop him Akash hugged the man tightly saying, "I will die, but I will not let you enter the church." So the young man and the suicide bomber died together. Our young man offered his life, thus saving the lives of hundreds of people, boys, girls, mothers, teenagers, and grown men who were praying inside the church at that moment.
Akash was 20 years old.
This fact left a profound impression and naturally, we cannot and do not want to lose the memory of young Akash. His simple and normal life is undoubtedly an extremely significant and important example for the young Christians of Lahore, all over Pakistan and the Salesian world.
Akash Bashir, a Past Pupil of Don Bosco of Pakistan, is a testimony of our Preventive System, an example for the youth, and a blessing for the religious minorities.
His Cause of Beatification, which will begin on March 15, 2022, in Lahore on the 7th anniversary of his death, is for us a sign of hope and an example of youthful holiness unto martyrdom.
