Pakistan believes in religious tolerance, says governor

LAHORE: Punjab Governor Sardar Saleem Haider cut the Christmas cake here on Wednesday at Governor’s House along with former Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf, senior leadership of Pakistan People’s Party and the Christian community.

On this occasion, governor congratulated the Christian community on the festival of Christmas and said that we should share maximum love, affection and happiness with each other on this occasion of joy. He praised the Christian community’s role in the development of the country since the establishment of Pakistan. He said that Pakistan belongs to all of us and we have to contribute to its development. Governor said that from Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Shaheed Benazir Bhutto to President Asif Ali Zardari, the PPP leadership has always given respect to the Christian community and gave them key positions. He said that the Christian community living in Pakistan should highlight the soft image of Pakistan to the whole world that there is an atmosphere of religious tolerance and brotherhood here in the country.

Paying tribute to the founder of Pakistan, Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, governor said that due to the inspiring leadership of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, we are breathing in a free atmosphere today. He said that the best way to pay tribute to Quaid-i-Azam is that we all create unity in our ranks and practically implement his guiding principles of faith, unity and discipline.

Former PM Raja Pervez Ashraf, while speaking on the occasion, said that the PPP has always talked about the minorities’ rights. He congratulated the Christian community on Christmas and said that the Christian community is an important part of the society. The ceremony was attended by General Secretary PPP Central Punjab Syed Hassan Murtaza and others.