From Zeeshan Mirza
KARACHI: The Christian community across Pakistan celebrated Christmas on Friday with traditional festivities and gatherings, albeit with the coronavirus looming above the holiday.
Special services and cake-cutting ceremonies were held in lit up churches throughout the country, while devotees offered prayers for the progress and prosperity of Pakistan and safety of the humanity from the deadly pandemic.
While social distancing during the gatherings appeared to be minimal, many participants could be seen wearing face masks, with some wearing them wrongly or forgoing them completely.
Strict security measures were taken to ensure safety of the Christian community and forces had been deployed outside churches to thwart any untoward incident. Christian community in Pakistan and around the world celebrated the Christmas on Friday.
Special prayers were being held in churches across the country with the Christian community also held special prayers for the solidarity and prosperity of Pakistan.
Both President Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Imran Khan felicitated the Christian community and observed that Jesus Christ as a Messenger of Allah is venerable not only to Christians but also to Muslims. “All citizens of the country enjoy the freedom of religion and worship under the constitution,” said President Alvi
Meanwhile, PM Imran in his message said the government is dedicated to preserve the sanctity of existence and equality of opportunities enjoyed by all Pakistanis including minorities.
“Minorities are actively contributing to the development and prosperity of the country without any hindrance,” said PM Imran
PM Imran also wished the a Happy Christmas to the Christian citizens of the country on twitter as well and urged them to observe COVID-19 SOPs.
“Wishing all our Christian citizens a very Happy Christmas. Please stay safe by observing COVID 19 SOPs,” said PM Imran.
Earlier Thursday Narcotics Control Minister Ijaz Shah said, Pakistan’s minorities enjoy equal rights, in a comment that came hours after President Dr Arif Alvi lauded the complete religious freedom in the country.
Speaking here at a ceremony in Youngsonabad, Ijaz Shah underscored that the white portion in Pakistan’s flag symbolised the nation’s religious minority communities, which are completely safe in the state.
“The provision of equal rights to them is part of our faith,” he said, according to the APP, as he distributed gifts on the occasion of Christmas and assured to resolve the minority communities’ problems on a priority basis.
Minorities in India: Shah underscored that the minorities in India were facing discriminatory attitude and even the farmers in the neighbouring country were facing problems due to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government’s non-serious approach towards the poor people.
Earlier, President Arif Alvi addressed a Christmas function at the Aiwan-e-Sadr, where he spoke of the PTI government’s commitment to ensure the religious freedom of all minorities in Pakistan.
PM already resolved promise of equal treatment: All minorities enjoyed complete religious freedom and equal rights in Pakistan, Alvi said, adding that the teachings of Islam and the country’s constitution guaranteed their religious rights.
The president cited unmatched precedents set up in Riasat-e-Madina (State of Medina) by Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) with regard to the treatment of people of different faiths. “It is the duty of all to ensure these principles of equity and inter-faith harmony,” he said.
The PTI government under Prime Minister Imran Khan had already resolved the promise of equal treatment towards all minorities, he said, adding that the premier had decided on showing the world how they were treated in Pakistan
Alvi said Pakistan’s founder, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, had pronounced the religious freedom and equal rights of all in a very elucidated manner in his historic speech of August 11.
For many, he added, the same reference was a sort of agreement reached with all minorities.
Alvi lauds Pope for speaking about Palestinians: The president underscored that contrary to such treatment in Pakistan, there was an alarming situation in the neighbourhood — India — where religious minorities were discriminated against and deprived of their citizenship. Extending felicitations to the Christian community, he also appreciated Pope Francis for his raising voice for the Palestinians and issues such as the inequality of wealth.
Separately, Religious Affairs Minister Noorul Haq Qadri, who was also present on the occasion, said the PTI government had ensured the religious freedom of all minorities.Karatarpur a manifestation of equal treatment: There was no discrimination against anyone on the basis of religion as the constitution of Pakistan had guaranteed equal treatment of all citizens, he said, extending greetings to the Christian community on Christmas.
Islam had ensured respect for all communities of different faiths, the minister said, referring to their equal treatment in Riasat-e-Madina and during the Caliphates’ ruling periods.
Qadri said the Karatarpur Corridor was a manifestation of how the PTI regime was working to facilitate all minorities even from across the border.
He highlighted that the Minority Commission’s chairperson belonged to the minority community.
