President Asif Ali Zardari on Monday reiterated that Pakistan was committed to protection of the rights of minorities and provision of equal opportunities to them to excel in every walk of life as enshrined in the Constitution of Pakistan.
\nAddressing a ceremony to mark the celebrations of Minorities\u2019 Day at the Aiwan-e-Sadr, the president said, \u201cUnder the Constitution and under the onus of oath of my office, I have the duty to protect all rights of the minorities and provide all kind of facilitation\u201d.
\nHe said that the objective behind the observance of Minorities\u2019 Day at the official level was to acknowledge the valuable contributions made by the members of different communities living in Pakistan.<\/p>\n
Pakistan committed to protection of minorities\u2019 rights, ensure equal opportunities: President<\/p>\n
The president further stressed upon enhancement of jobs opportunities for the minorities in different government\u2019s departments on merit basis besides, increasing the existing jobs quota.<\/p>\n
Lauding the role of the minorities in the national progress and prosperity, he said that they were the equal citizens of Pakistan and future builders of the nation.
\nStressing upon the significance of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah\u2019s vision, the president said they were required to fully emulate his message aimed at fostering unity, brotherhood and religious tolerance in society.<\/p>\n
The event arranged by the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony was attended by members of parliament, ulema, religious leaders, members of the diplomatic corps, media and representatives from different minorities.<\/p>\n
Comparing the current situation in India, the president said \u201cModi\u2019s India is not a safe haven for the minorities,\u201d and lauded Quaid\u2019s farsightedness and leadership who had realized the future fate of minorities in India.
\nPresident Zardari said the people of Pakistan always felt the pains of sufferings of humanity and for those lying lowly in society and accorded due respect and space to all the minorities living here because such a message of human consideration had been embedded in their religion and culture.
\nHe also recited a verse of famous Sindhi poet, Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai, in this regard to emphasize his point of view.<\/p>\n
While recollecting the events of Pakistan Movement, he said that his father in his youth took active part for the creation of Pakistan.<\/p>\n
President Zardari referring to the ongoing Israeli aggression in Gaza, said that atrocious and indiscriminate strikes were targeting all Palestinians and people from different faiths.<\/p>\n
Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Chaudhry Salik Hussain felicitated the minorities on the observance of national day and said that all communities living in the country enjoyed religious freedom and were bonded with affection, tolerance, peace and brotherhood.
\nHe underlined that they were ought to spread this message across the globe.
\nCiting different constitutional articles, he said minorities\u2019 rights had been guaranteed under the constitutional provisions, besides the Islamic teachings had also laid emphasis upon such rights.<\/p>\n
Archbishop Rawalpindi and Islamabad Dr Joseph Arshad, Haroon Sarb Diyal representative of Hindu community, Sardar Gurpal Singh representative of Sikh community, Dr Seema Farzad representative of Bahai community and Isphandyar M. Bhandra, a member of National Assembly and representative of Parsi community, also expressed their views on the occasion.
\nThe appreciated the government\u2019s steps for the protection of their rights, welfare and well beings, besides according them equal opportunities in different walks of life.
\nThey said nation\u2019s founder Quaid e Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, in his historic speech of August 11, 1947 had stressed upon the religious freedom and rights of all communities.
\nThe speakers also lauded the president for the observance of Minorities\u2019 Day at the national level and the recent signing of Christian Marriage Act (Amended) 1872.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
President Asif Ali Zardari on Monday reiterated that Pakistan was committed to protection of the rights of minorities and provision of equal opportunities to them to excel in every walk of life as enshrined in the Constitution of Pakistan. Addressing a ceremony to mark the celebrations of Minorities\u2019 Day at the Aiwan-e-Sadr, the president said, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":424397,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-424379","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-top-news"},"yoast_head":"\n