A file photo of Christmas gifts. PHOTO: FILE
FAISALABAD:
Divisional Commissioner Sardar Akram Javed and District Coordination Officer Noorul Amin Mengal visited the Catholic church on Railway Road to express solidarity with the Christian community on Christmas eve.
Maulana Muhammad Yousaf Anwar, Pir Ibrahim, Sahibzada Zahid Mehmood Qasmi, Maulana and Muhammad Riaz Kharal were also present on the occasion. They extended Christmas greetings and participated in the cake cutting ceremony.
The commissioner said that various communities in civilised nations celebrated their festivals together. He said this helped strengthen the patriotic sentiments and promoted national harmony. He assured the congregation of every possible effort for the welfare of the minority in the Faisalabad division.
The DCO said that minority citizens were playing an equal role in the development and prosperity of the Pakistan. He said their rights could not be neglected. He said that special arrangements had been made by the district administration in public parks to facilitate the Christians on Christmas.
The Muslim clerics also spoke on the occasion saying that Islam guaranteed protection of minorities. He mentioned that the founder of Pakistan Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah had also stressed the policy. Bishop Joseph Arshed thanked the Muslim guests for their sentiments.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 26th, 2013.
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