President Asif Ali Zardari on Thursday said August 11 is a day to reaffirm commitment to continue working for promoting interfaith harmony in the country and to strive for progressive and tolerant Pakistan as envisioned by Father of the nation.Addressing the Minorities Day function held at Aiwan-e-Sadr here, the President reiterated the government’s commitment to protect minorities and to ensure that their constitutional rights were safeguarded at all costs and they are fully drawn in the mainstream of national life.
He said the day was an occasion to recognize the important role played by the minorities of Pakistan in nation building and to honour the sacrifices rendered by them.
It was also a day to ponder over the problems faced by the minorities and to work together to address them, he added.
He said Islam lays special emphasis on equal and just treatment of the disadvantaged and minorities. The Constitution of Pakistan and the UN Declaration of Human Rights protect the rights of the minorities, he added.
The President said the government was committed to ensure equal rights for all the minorities. Recognition of and respect for the minorities rights was part of the PPP manifesto, he continued.
The President said the very foundations of the country as a modern, tolerant and progressive state were laid by none other than the Quaid himself during his 11th August speech in the Constituent Assembly.
The President while quoting the speech of Quaid-i-Azam said that the speech of Quaid marks the state policy towards minorities rooted in the freedom for every one to profess his religious beliefs freely and without fear or interference.
The President expressed the hope that after passage of 18th Amendment, the Provincial Governments would continue to ensure equality, freedom and security for all communities so that they can freely profess and practise their religions and also safeguard their legitimate and rightful interests.
On this occasion, the President also recounted a number of initiatives taken by the present government for the welfare of the minorities and for bringing them into the mainstream of national life.
Reservation of five per cent quota in government jobs/services, reservation of four seats for them in Senate, declaration of 11th August, as Minority Day, optional holiday, celebration of religious festivals of minorities at official level, a hundred per cent increase in Minority Development Fund and establishment of prayer rooms in all prisons of Pakistan were various steps taken for the welfare of minorities, he said.
Stressing upon the need to promote interfaith harmony, Zardari said that there was an urgent need in the world today, more than ever, for removing distrust and misunderstandings among the followers of different religions.
“We all must work together to prove wrong those who predict clash of civilization,” he said adding the Ministry of National Harmony has been mandated to actively engage in dialogue with scholars and leaders of all faiths to remove misunderstandings which are the root cause of extremism.
The President while expressing determination not to permit misuse of any law against vulnerable groups including the minorities said that he was aware of the issue of misuse of some laws against minorities by vested interests.
He called upon saner elements of society to get together in the fight against extremist mindset who misuse laws.
On this day, the President said, “we reaffirm that despite belonging to different faiths we are one nation and together we march for a prosperous Pakistan”.
The President, during his speech, also paid glowing tributes to late Shahbaz Bhatti, former Federal Minister for Minorities Affairs, who was assassinated in March 2011.
He said that late Shahbaz Bhatti was an active member of the PPP who struggled for years under the dynamic leadership of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto for restoration of democracy in Pakistan.
The President also inaugurated Shahbaz Bhatti Memorial Trust that has been established by the bereaved family of Mr. Bhatti with the objective of establishing programmes which will help in the economic empowerment, social uplift and mainstreaming of minorities. APP
It was also a day to ponder over the problems faced by the minorities and to work together to address them, he added.
He said Islam lays special emphasis on equal and just treatment of the disadvantaged and minorities. The Constitution of Pakistan and the UN Declaration of Human Rights protect the rights of the minorities, he added.
The President said the government was committed to ensure equal rights for all the minorities. Recognition of and respect for the minorities rights was part of the PPP manifesto, he continued.
The President said the very foundations of the country as a modern, tolerant and progressive state were laid by none other than the Quaid himself during his 11th August speech in the Constituent Assembly.
The President while quoting the speech of Quaid-i-Azam said that the speech of Quaid marks the state policy towards minorities rooted in the freedom for every one to profess his religious beliefs freely and without fear or interference.
The President expressed the hope that after passage of 18th Amendment, the Provincial Governments would continue to ensure equality, freedom and security for all communities so that they can freely profess and practise their religions and also safeguard their legitimate and rightful interests.
On this occasion, the President also recounted a number of initiatives taken by the present government for the welfare of the minorities and for bringing them into the mainstream of national life.
Reservation of five per cent quota in government jobs/services, reservation of four seats for them in Senate, declaration of 11th August, as Minority Day, optional holiday, celebration of religious festivals of minorities at official level, a hundred per cent increase in Minority Development Fund and establishment of prayer rooms in all prisons of Pakistan were various steps taken for the welfare of minorities, he said.
Stressing upon the need to promote interfaith harmony, Zardari said that there was an urgent need in the world today, more than ever, for removing distrust and misunderstandings among the followers of different religions.
“We all must work together to prove wrong those who predict clash of civilization,” he said adding the Ministry of National Harmony has been mandated to actively engage in dialogue with scholars and leaders of all faiths to remove misunderstandings which are the root cause of extremism.
The President while expressing determination not to permit misuse of any law against vulnerable groups including the minorities said that he was aware of the issue of misuse of some laws against minorities by vested interests.
He called upon saner elements of society to get together in the fight against extremist mindset who misuse laws.
On this day, the President said, “we reaffirm that despite belonging to different faiths we are one nation and together we march for a prosperous Pakistan”.
The President, during his speech, also paid glowing tributes to late Shahbaz Bhatti, former Federal Minister for Minorities Affairs, who was assassinated in March 2011.
He said that late Shahbaz Bhatti was an active member of the PPP who struggled for years under the dynamic leadership of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto for restoration of democracy in Pakistan.
The President also inaugurated Shahbaz Bhatti Memorial Trust that has been established by the bereaved family of Mr. Bhatti with the objective of establishing programmes which will help in the economic empowerment, social uplift and mainstreaming of minorities. APP
