RAWALPINDI: Prime Minister Imran Khan and other Pakistani leaders have wished the country’s Christian community a happy Easter as members of the minority group gathered in churches on Sunday.
Pakistan’s Christian community makes up about 1.6 percent of the country’s population of 220 million.
Unlike last year, when due to a coronavirus lockdown worshippers were confined to their homes, this time churches were allowed to hold Easter services, in accordance with the government’s safety protocols.
“Wishing all our Christian citizens a happy Easter,” PM Khan said in a tweet.
Wishing all our Christian citizens a happy Easter.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) April 4, 2021
Greetings also came from National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser.
Heartiest #Easter greetings to our Christian brethren.
— Asad Qaiser (@AsadQaiserPTI) April 4, 2021
Education Minister Shafqat Mahmood also took to Twitter.
“To all my Christian friends. Happy Easter,” he wrote. “May this day bring great joy to you and your families.”
To all my Christian friends. Happy Easter. May this day bring great joy to you and your families
— Shafqat Mahmood (@Shafqat_Mahmood) April 3, 2021
Easter is the most important festival of the year for most Christians, commemorating the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, described in the New Testament.