ISLAMABAD:
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday reaffirmed the nation’s commitment to safeguarding the rights, welfare and equal inclusion of minority communities in all spheres of national life.
On the occasion of National Minorities Day, observed annually on August 11, both leaders paid tribute to the contributions of minorities in nation-building, stressing the principles of interfaith harmony, equality and mutual respect as envisioned by Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.
In his message, President Asif Ali Zardari renewed the national resolve “to work for the empowerment and advancement of minority communities” and pledged to continue efforts to “promote interfaith harmony, brotherhood and unity to build an inclusive and prosperous Pakistan”.
He said Minorities Day reflected Quaid-e-Azam’s vision of a Pakistan “where every citizen lives in equality, harmony, and mutual respect”.
He noted that the Constitution of Pakistan guaranteed equal rights to all citizens regardless of religion, caste, creed, or colour and safeguarded the legitimate political, economic, religious, social and cultural interests of minorities.
“Pakistan stands resolutely against all forms of discrimination, extremism, and religious intolerance. We remain determined to build a society free from prejudiceone that embraces diversity as a strength,” he said.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in his message, said the government of Pakistan, guided by “high religious and constitutional values”, was committed to the full inclusion of minorities in government institutions, Parliament and the national mainstream.
“Today, the entire nation, including me, is celebrating National Minorities Day to protect the rights of minorities and appreciate their key role in the country’s development and progress,” he said.
“Today, we renew our pledge to always strive for religious freedom and equal rights of minorities in the light of the teachings of the founder of Pakistan and Islamic teachings,” he added.
Calling Quaid-e-Azam’s August 11, 1947, address an “ideological guarantee for the secure future of minorities in Pakistan,” the prime minister said the welfare of Sikhs, Christians, Hindus, Parsis and all other minority groups was “one of the priority duties of the government of Pakistan”.
