SAPM Mushaal Hussein Mullick, Chairman and CEO of Pakistan Observer Faisal Zahid Malik,NPC Member Executive Committee Manzoor Masih, Chairman NPC Mian Muhammad Javed and others cutting cake during special ceremony in connection with Christmas.
Zubair Qureshi
Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Human Rights and Women Empowerment, Mushaal Hussein Mullick has said that Christmas always serves as a reminder to respect all religions and promote tolerance and interfaith harmony in society. “Pakistan cannot make progress until and unless all its citizens, whichever faith they belong to, have equal participation in its overall growth.”
She expressed these views on Thursday while addressing as Chief Guest a special ceremony to express solidarity with the Christian community in connection with Christmas. The event was organized by the Nazriya Pakistan Council (NPC) at the Aiwan-e-Quaid.
Chairman and CEO of Pakistan Observer, Mr Faisal Zahid Malik, Chairman of the NPC Mian Muhammad Javed, Member (Minority) of the NPC Executive Committee as well as Member (Minority Seat) of the NCHR, Mr Manzoor Masih, NPC Executive Committee members Ms Nargis Nasir and Dr Afzaal, Rev. Rashid Manzoor of Christ’s Church Rawalpindi, Founder of the International HR Observer, Dr Khalid Sulehri, a large number of the Christian community representatives and members of civil society including HR activists attended the event and reiterated their faith in the bright and prosperous future of Pakistan.
While addressing on the occasion, SAPM, Mushaal Mullick was of the view that the world needed tolerance and interfaith harmony more than ever before. She particularly referred to her recent visits to Norway and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia where she on behalf of the government and people of Pakistan raised the voice for the people of Held Kashmir and Palestine.
They are suffering from unimaginable pain and anguish at the hands of the occupying forces. She called upon the UN and the world powers to play their role to end their sufferings.
About Christmas, she said each year, Christmas brings a new resolution, that of interfaith harmony, tolerance towards all religions and faiths. Since this day also coincides with the birthday of Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, we also remember his golden words that in Pakistan there would be no discrimination against followers of any faith or religion, she said. Christmas, she said, is all about love, interfaith and inclusivity.
Mushaal congratulated the NPC and the NPC Executive Committee Member Manzoor Masih for bringing people from diverse faiths and religions under one roof.
In his address Mr Faisal Zahid Malik paid rich tributes to the contributions and achievements of the Christian community particularly in the fields of health, defence, education and science & technology. Celebrating Christmas is a regular feature of the NPC annual celebrations, he said. My father and the Founder Chairman of the NPC late Zahid Malik initiated celebrating Christmas some twenty years ago and since then we have been celebrating it on a regular basis, said Mr Faisal Zahid Malik. Earlier, we celebrated Christmas by gathering in one of Islamabad’s local churches and expressed solidarity with them. Then five years ago, we shifted the venue to the Aiwan-e-Quaid on the recommendations of the Christian friends, he said. Pakistan’s Constitution safeguards the rights of minorities and our flag also reflects the representation of the minorities of Pakistan, he said.
Manzoor Masih while expressing gratitude to the participants said the Christian community has always been in the forefront in promoting and contributing to the country, be it health, defence and education. Even in the Movement for Pakistan, Christians played a key role he said and pledged to continue this service to Pakistan. The NPC Chairman also congratulated the Christian friends on the auspicious occasion. Later, a cake was cut to celebrate Christmas and Birthday of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.
