By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: As Christians around the world marked Christmas on Thursday, Pakistan’s top leaders extended greetings to the country’s Christian minority, emphasising their integral role in national life and invoking the founding principles of religious freedom and equality laid out by Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the nation’s founder.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in a message posted on the social media platform X, described the Christian community as “an integral part of our national fabric.” He highlighted their “enduring contributions to education, healthcare, and social welfare, and their sacrifices alongside the nation in the fight against terrorism,” calling these efforts “deeply valued and a source of collective pride.”
Sharif offered his “warmest greetings” to Christians worldwide, “especially to our Christian brothers and sisters in Pakistan.” “May this festive season fill hearts with joy, strengthen bonds of harmony, and bring peace, hope, and prosperity to all.”
In a separate statement carried by the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan, or APP, the prime minister noted that Christmas “conveys a universal message of love, peace, tolerance, and goodwill for all humanity.”
He praised Christians in Pakistan as “an active, positive and peaceful segment of society” that has “rendered commendable services in education, healthcare and other sectors, contributing to social harmony and national development.” Ensuring “equal rights, freedoms, economic well-being, and equal opportunities for all citizens without discrimination” remains a top government priority, Sharif said. He called on people of all faiths to unite in building “a strong, secure, and prosperous Pakistan.”
President Asif Ali Zardari in a message broadcast by the state-run Pakistan Television News said Christmas “is a time of hope, peace and compassion”. “The message of love and service to humanity that this season brings reminds us of the deep bonds that unite all people.” Zardari invoked Jinnah’s address to Pakistan’s first Constituent Assembly on Aug. 11, 1947, as a cornerstone of the country’s commitment to pluralism. He quoted the founder directly: “You are free; you are free to go to your temples, you are free to go to your mosques or any other place of worship in this State of Pakistan. You may belong to any religion, caste or creed — that has nothing to do with the business of the State.” “These words remain a powerful commitment to religious freedom and mutual respect among citizens,” the president said.
He went on to commend the contributions of Pakistani Christians in fields including politics, national defence, education, literature, arts, music, healthcare, social welfare and public service. “Their efforts strengthen our shared progress and enrich our national life,” Zardari said. Pakistan’s Constitution, he added, guarantees “equal rights and freedom of religion for every citizen.” The president reaffirmed the nation’s dedication to “fostering harmony, mutual respect and peaceful coexistence among all communities,” describing diversity as “a source of strength” that should “inspire greater unity, understanding and cooperation.” “May the spirit of Christmas inspire us all to uphold compassion and justice and to work together for the welfare of our nation.”
The Pakistani armed forces also joined in the observances, extending “heartfelt” greetings to the Christian community in a statement released by the military’s Inter-Services Public Relations directorate and reported by APP. The statement acknowledged the community’s “valuable contributions to the nation’s progress” and reaffirmed the military’s commitment to Jinnah’s vision of “equal rights, religious freedom and harmony for all citizens.”
Pakistan, a predominantly Muslim nation of about 240 million people, is home to roughly four million Christians, according to government estimates. The community has faced periodic violence and discrimination, including attacks on churches and accusations of blasphemy that have sometimes led to mob violence. But official messages like those issued on Christmas underscore the government’s stated efforts to promote interfaith harmony amid ongoing challenges.
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