Pakistani Government to Celebrate Christmas

Pakistanâ€s Minorities Ministry organized Christmas celebrations in Nationâ€s capital hosted the by Prime Minister.

ISLAMABAD (AsiaNews) – Christians are not alone in celebrating Christmas in Pakistan this year. In the days before 25 December religious communities and organisations are preparing many public events, but others are doing the same. Indeed some political parties and public institutions are organising something to celebrate the festivity.

Pakistanâ€s Minorities Ministry organised Christmas celebrations at the Pakistan National Council of Arts (PNCA) in nationâ€s capital, hosted by Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani

In wishing Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year to all Pakistani Christians, Mr Gilani said that the country had a moral obligation to safeguard and promote a culture of peace and harmony.

In reiterating his governmentâ€s commitment to the economic development of minorities and the preservation of their religious identity, language and tradition, the prime minister announced that the government would reserve 5 per cent of jobs in the federal public service for minorities. “It is our duty to our faith in the power of the people and in the prosperity of minorities,” the premier said.

Mr Gilani also said that the Pakistani Peopleâ€s Party (PPP) intends to increase the number of seats to represent minorities in national and provincial assemblies, and pave the way for them to be represented in the senate, the real decision-making body of the country.

Finally he stressed his intention to celebrate with conviction and enthusiasm Minorities Day next 11 August, the day when the nation remembers the first speech by the countryâ€s founder, Quaid-e-Azam Mahomed Ali Jinnah, father of modern Pakistan, to the Constituent Assembly.

Speaking about Mr Gilaniâ€s statement, Peter Jacob, executive secretary of the Catholic Churchâ€s National Commission for Justice and Peace (NCJP), said that popular participation in Christmas celebrations marks a desire for reconciliation and this despite the difficult situation the country is going through.

Tensions with India and the shadow cast by terrorism have not in fact prevented people at all levels and from all walks of life from taking part in Christmas celebrations.

Communities from Pakistanâ€s many confessions are especially involved in organising many activities and celebrations (pictured: the lights of Saint Thomas Anglican Church in Islamabad), and this despite the fact that the countryâ€s Christians represent only 2.5 per cent of the predominantly Muslim population of 170 million.

For Jacob the fact that political parties and government institutions have promoted events for such an occasion is a very positive sign. It is also quite significant that a Christmas dinner is scheduled at the Presidentâ€s Residence.

It is hoped that other initiatives will be taken in favour of the hundreds of thousands of mostly poor Christians to alleviate their suffering and meet their needs.

The NCJP secretary also said that as far as Gilaniâ€s announcement is concerned the NCJP is hoping that the promises made will be kept “because in past there were also many announcements but they were not implemented.”

Very good to see this!

I hope Pakistan enjoyed Christmas and went festive to a massive degree.

Today on TV Christmas is being covered almost as much MA Jinnah's 132nd birthday. Tomorrow its going to be all about Benazir Bhutto(her 1st anniversary)

Who is MA Jinnah? And I assume it's an anniversary as opposed to someone celebrating a birthday themself...

hmmm..yeah thats what i mean.

Muhammed Ali Jinnah was the founder of Pakistan.

Cool, pardon my ignorance, but history was never something that grabbed me. I spent most history lessons listening to the races on a radio earpiece.

or it might have been before your school days...

I'm not that old!

oh...i thought you were horrie's classmate

Careful PP. Putting anyone in the same class as horrie is dangerous.

Government + Religion = Not good, not good at all.

doremi wrote:Government + Religion = Not good, not good at all.

Very true. In a theocracy, not only is freedom of belief often violated, but the basic democratic principle that even the highest authority should be held accountable if he/she screws up cannot be met.

mynah wrote:

doremi wrote:Government + Religion = Not good, not good at all.

Very true. In a theocracy, not only is freedom of belief often violated, but the basic democratic principle that even the highest authority should be held accountable if he/she screws up cannot be met.

IN that case, life should be found the guilty party, and confiscated from all involved.

doremi wrote:Government + Religion = Not good, not good at all.

Valid point

but if it can be used to UNITE the majority(Muslims) and minorities(Christians and Hindus) then why not?