Islamabad: On the occasion of Christmas, Form 47 Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reiterated on Thursday his administration’s allegiance to ensuring interfaith peace and safeguarding the rights of religious minorities, as Christian citizens throughout the country celebrated one of their most religious festivals.
In his Christmas message to the nation, the prime minister repeated that ‘The security of rights of religious minorities guaranteed in the constitution is a hallmark of the province.’ Restoring full citizenship to equal status with respect and dignity has long been central to this government’s policy and will continue to be so. He underscored Pakistan’s strength in its diversity and urged unity, tolerance, and reciprocal relations among adherents of all faiths.
“Minorities are an essential part of our national fabric,” Sharif said, and said the government was dedicated to promoting a country where people of all religions can live, worship, and flourish in harmony without fear or intolerance.
Celebrated the world over on December 25, Christmas commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ and is observed by millions of Christians worldwide through church services, prayers, family meals, and cultural festivities.
In Pakistan, local communities and homes are decorated with flowers and decorations, sometimes with white or black drapery. Parishioners attend midnight Mass and sing carols to mark the occasion, and gifts will be exchanged, as well as a community meal organised and some charitable events.
Security was stepped up in the country’s largest cities, including Lahore, Karachi, and Islamabad, to prevent any untoward incidents amid peaceful celebrations, and government ministers and politicians extended greetings to Christians.
Pakistan, with a population of over 240 million people, is a Muslim-majority country where Christianity is the third-largest religion. A national census in 2023 showed some three million followers) comprising about 1.3 percent of the population.
Even though they had lived there for generations and added to the social and economic development of Pakistan, Christians often encountered systematic discrimination. Human rights groups have recorded instances of charges of blasphemy, mob violence, forced conversions, and abductions, predominantly against women and girls. And advocates are still demanding more robust legal measures and their enforcement to protect minority populations’ safety and dignity.
The prime minister’s comments come in the wake of fresh demands from civil society and international commentators that Pakistan must take concrete measures to protect minority rights and foster genuine inter-faith harmony across the country.
