ISLAMABAD: Christians in Pakistan are celebrating Christmas on Wednesday with traditional fervor as country’s top political leadership extends good wishes to the community and vows to provide equal rights and opportunities to all citizens.
To ensure the security, authorities have deployed additional law enforcement personnel to protect the churches and mass prayer sites across the country with anti-terror squad and bomb disposal units on standby.
More than 1000 police personnel have been deployed to protect churches in the capital city of Islamabad alone, according to Deputy Inspector General (operations) Islamabad, Waqar Uddin Syed while 36,000 strong force will perform duties in Punjab.
Prime Minister Imran Khan in his Christmas message said, “I extend my heartiest felicitations and wish Merry Christmas to our Christian brethren in Pakistan and all over the world. Christmas is an auspicious occasion to reflect on the message of Jesus Christ, the eternal message of love, peace, tolerance and compassion for humanity.”
“Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah (founder of Pakistan) had, right from the first day of creation of Pakistan unequivocally declared a policy of equality, freedom and security for all communities living in Pakistan irrespective of their religion, profession or ethnic origin,” Khan added.
Khan said that his government is dedicated to preserve the sanctity of peaceful coexistence and equality of opportunities enjoyed by all Pakistanis including our minorities. “Our Government treats all minority citizens as equal citizens of Pakistan and undertakes to empower them to use their abilities socially, economically and politically for national development.”
President Arif Alvi in his message also extended his greetings to the community in a statement. “Our commitment to this fundamental principle is firmly grounded in the teachings of Islam, the vision of Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and the inviolable guarantees of our Constitution.”
“We are committed to building a society that respects difference and finds strength in diversity; a nation that is tolerant and cohesive; and a state that provides equal rights and opportunities to all citizens,” he added.
Nearly 3.9 million Christians live in Pakistan, constituting the country’s largest minority according to the population census of 2018.
