Prayers for peace ring out as Pakistanis celebrate Christmas

Prayers at midnight mass ask for peace, as Christians flock to churches.

KARACHI: Christians in Pakistan, along with those around the world kicked off Christmas celebrations with midnight mass, Express News reported.

The Christian community came out in large numbers to attend midnight Christmas prayers before festivities kick off tomorrow.

People dressed in red coats, caps and white beards, to depict the famous character, Santa Claus, handed out gifts and sweets to children.

One family which attended the mass in Karachi's Trinity Church explained that they celebrate Christmas to mark the birth of Jesus Christ. They said that during mass, they prayed for peace.

Sindh Information Minister Shazia Marri visited the Trinity Church in Karachi and cut the Christmas cake.

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani had cut a ceremonial Christmas cake along with the Minister of State for National Harmony, Akram Masih Gill, and leaders from other minority communities at Fatima Church, Islamabad.

Security, inside and outside the churches has been kept fairly tight. People coming to the churches were checked. Police had issued specific security plans for churches all over Pakistan to ensure smooth proceedings of festivities and services on Christmas.

The government had also promised that there will be no load shedding at churches on Christmas.

Churches and houses of Christians were decked out in lit decorations and the Christmas tree.

Earlier on Saturday, Akram Masih Gill, the Minister of State for National Harmony distributed Christmas gifts among 3000 poor Christians, as part of Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani’s Christmas package of Rs. 3 million.

Gill said that this was a special gift from the government of Pakistan for the Christian community on this auspicious occasion of joy and happiness. It showed that the present democratic government was well aware of its responsibilities towards the deprived segment of the society.

The ceremony took place in a peaceful atmosphere under the supervision of Federal Secretary of the said Ministry who was also present along with all senior and junior officials of the Ministry of National Harmony.

Akram Gill further said that government of Pakistan had taken many steps to safeguard the rights and uplifts of the minorities, five per cent quota has been reserved for them in government jobs, more seats have been reserved in the National Assembly and Senate for minorities.

He said that official marriage acts of different faiths, after the consultation of the scholars of these faiths, will soon be introduced to streamline issues .