Lahore
Punjab Minister for Human Rights and Minorities Affairs Khalil Tahir Sandhu has said the Punjab government will ensure security of churches and worship places throughout the province during midnight mass of December 24 and 25 on Christmas and intervening night between December 31 and January 1 (New Year night) to prevent any untoward incident.
In a meeting on Tuesday, the minister said the directive in this regard has been issued to all regional police officers, CPOs and DPOs in Punjab along with Capital City Police Officer Lahore by the chief minister’s office. Khalil Tahir said the Punjab government has also released Christmas grant worth Rs 30 million which will be disbursed among the deserving Christian families (Rs 5,000/- per family) throughout the province by respective District Coordination Officers according to the criteria devised in this regard.
The salaries of Christian government employees have been paid from December 20 so as to enable them to participate in the celebrations of forthcoming Christmas. It has also been decided to set up “Christmas Bazaars” in different locations of the province from December 22 so that Christian community can purchase commodities at comparatively cheaper rates.
Khalil Tahir directed the officers concerned to ensure foolproof security arrangements for Christmas Bazaars along with provision of related facilities to the consumers.
Minorities: Federal Minister for Human Rights Kamran Michael has said that minorities are enjoying complete religious freedom in Pakistan.
Addressing a Christmas cake-cutting ceremony organised by Punjab University’s Christian community at the university’s Faisal Auditorium on Tuesday, the minister said the country was progressing due to joint efforts of civil and military leadership. Senior Pastor Anwar Fazal, Faculty of Life Sciences Dean Prof Dr Naeem Khan, organiser of the event sanitary inspector Ch Mushtaq Masih and a large number of Christian employees and their families were present. The federal minister said Pakistan was the best Muslim country where Christians were being provided with their rights and liberty. He congratulated the organisers on arranging a successful ceremony. Prof Dr Naeem Khan said the Christian community role in development of Pakistan was commendable.
