Christian and Muslim leaders have gathered in Lahore to pray for peace after 73 people were killed in a terror attack aimed at Christians on Easter Sunday.

The service was organised by the council for inter-religious freedom in St Mary's Church. The Archbishop of Lahore Sebastian Shaw has visited a number of wounded victims in hospital and conducted at least 20 funerals.

"There are no words," Shaw told Fides news agency. "An authentic tragedy. Hope can only come from God."

He continued: "We need prayers so that we can continue the mission entrusted to us by the Risen Lord Jesus: to restore peace and hope to the wounded and desperate people".

However despite the government pledges of retribution, the pastor of an assemblies of God church in Lahore said the Christian community is still threatened.

"We went out to celebrate Easter. We are a young church, the majority of those coming are families with children and young couples. After the service they usually go to a park near our church so that the children can play. We are very united. It was a tragedy," he told the Spanish media La Información.

"There is no security, our non-Christian neighbours insult us almost daily, and we are scared", he said.

Another pastor, Shakil Anjum of the Children's Chapel, said: "The government has proved it cannot keep people safe so the army should take over security.

"They have strengthened security at our churches but now terrorists are coming to public spaces to kill us."

More than 5,000 suspects were arrested after the bombing on Easter Sunday. Most have been released but 216 remain in custody.

Government officials promised a paramilitary crackdown on terrorism in Punjab after Jamaat-ur-Ahrar claimed responsibility for the attack. The Taliban-affiliated group have previously claimed loyalty to Islamic State and said the attack was a warning to Pakistan's prime minister.

A statement after the attack read: "The target was Christians. We want to send this message to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif that we have entered Lahore."