In a unified gesture of solidarity, both President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif have extended their heartfelt messages of support to Pakistan’s religious minority communities on the occasion of National Minorities Day.
President Zardari emphasized that religious minorities in Pakistan “enjoy all the political, economic, and social rights” enshrined in the Constitution. He highlighted ongoing governmental efforts to empower these communities and called on society to educate people about minority rights and foster interfaith harmony. His message underscored the importance of love, tolerance, and unity in strengthening the nation.
Prime Minister Sharif, on the other hand, praised the invaluable contributions of minority communities to Pakistan’s development. Reflecting on their pivotal role in the Pakistan Movement and their continued efforts in nation-building, Sharif offered his best wishes and acknowledged their enduring impact on the country’s progress.
The significance of National Minorities Day is marked by its coincidence with Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s historic speech on August 11, 1947, where he promised to safeguard the rights and religious freedoms of minorities. The current leadership has reaffirmed its commitment to this promise.
The armed forces, including the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee and the services chiefs, also conveyed warm greetings to the minority communities. In a statement from the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), they acknowledged the “indispensable contributions” of minorities to the nation’s development and cultural richness. The statement highlighted the importance of diversity, inclusivity, and harmonious coexistence as foundational elements of the nation.
Additionally, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari reiterated the need for an environment where every individual’s opinion is valued regardless of their religion. He noted that it was his father, former President Asif Ali Zardari, who had designated August 11 as National Minorities Day.
In other news, 22 brigadiers have been promoted to the rank of major general, and the Sindh Assembly has appointed PPP’s Owais Qadir Shah as speaker and Anthony Naveed as deputy speaker. Law Minister Tarar and Justice Shah have also advocated for greater representation of minority judges within the judiciary.
