Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Thursday said the present democratic government stands committed to ensure equal rights for all minority communities as enshrined in Constitution of Pakistan and UN Declaration of Human Rights.Speaking at a function organized here at the Prime Minister House to celebrate the Minorities Day, he said, “It is our moral, religious and social obligation to strengthen the bond of love and promote culture of tolerance in the country.”Growing intolerance and extremism is a serious threat to the fabric of our society, he added.He lamented that some extremist elements with a view to advancing their own narrow and bigoted agendas have targeted the minorities.
“The people’s government, however, stands fully committed to foil the designs of these extremist elements. The perpetrators of the crime against the minority community anywhere in Pakistan - must be brought to justice and they will be,” the prime minister said.
He said it is singular honour of the present government that it declared August 11 as Minorities Day.
The objective of celebrating the day at the national level is to acknowledge contribution of the minorities in different walks of national life, highlight their rights and promote inter-faith harmony, he added.
The Prime Minister said minorities are partners in development of Pakistan and are rendering valuable services in different fields of life including defence, education, health and social welfare.
Gilani said Minorities Day is in line with vision of Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, which he enunciated during his address to the Members of Pakistan’s first Constituent Assembly on August 11, 1947.
He quoted Quaid-e-Azam as saying, “You are free; you are free to go to your temples, you are free to go to your mosques or to any other place of worship in this State of Pakistan. You may belong to any religion or caste or creed - that has nothing to do with the business of the State. We are starting with this fundamental principle that we are all citizens and equal citizens of one State.”
Vision of the Quaid represents the values of tolerance, and moderation espoused by Islam, he said adding Quaid appointed Mr. Jugander Nath Mandal, a member of the minority community, as the minister for law in the first cabinet after the establishment of Pakistan.
He said Pakistan is historically a multicultural society where people belonging to different faiths have traditionally been living together in peace, harmony, mutual respect and understanding.
All great religions including Islam espouse universal values like equality, socio-economic justice, fair play and respect for human rights with special emphasis on equal and just treatment of the minorities, he said.
He recalled that the Madina Pact the Holy Prophet (PBUH) signed with Jews gave full protection to the fundamental rights of non-Muslims including religious freedom to practice their religion freely.
Gilani quoted a very famous incident from the Islamic history, to illustrate the spirit of harmony and brotherhood between Islam and minorities.
He narrated that once a 40-member Christian delegation from Nijran came to hold dialogue with the Holy Prophet (PBUH).
The Holy Prophet (PBUH) treated them as his personal guests and made them stay in the Prophet’s Mosque. When the members of delegation enquired about the place to pray, the Prophet (PBUH) allowed them to pray in the Prophet’s Mosque in accordance with their religious requirements, the Prime Minister said.
The human history fails to offer any such example of tolerance, harmony and brotherhood, Gilani said adding, “it is about time we rediscovered and highlighted our shared commonalities and values in the larger interest of peaceful coexistence and human development.”
He said it is singular honour of the present government that it declared August 11 as Minorities Day.
The objective of celebrating the day at the national level is to acknowledge contribution of the minorities in different walks of national life, highlight their rights and promote inter-faith harmony, he added.
The Prime Minister said minorities are partners in development of Pakistan and are rendering valuable services in different fields of life including defence, education, health and social welfare.
Gilani said Minorities Day is in line with vision of Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, which he enunciated during his address to the Members of Pakistan’s first Constituent Assembly on August 11, 1947.
He quoted Quaid-e-Azam as saying, “You are free; you are free to go to your temples, you are free to go to your mosques or to any other place of worship in this State of Pakistan. You may belong to any religion or caste or creed - that has nothing to do with the business of the State. We are starting with this fundamental principle that we are all citizens and equal citizens of one State.”
Vision of the Quaid represents the values of tolerance, and moderation espoused by Islam, he said adding Quaid appointed Mr. Jugander Nath Mandal, a member of the minority community, as the minister for law in the first cabinet after the establishment of Pakistan.
He said Pakistan is historically a multicultural society where people belonging to different faiths have traditionally been living together in peace, harmony, mutual respect and understanding.
All great religions including Islam espouse universal values like equality, socio-economic justice, fair play and respect for human rights with special emphasis on equal and just treatment of the minorities, he said.
He recalled that the Madina Pact the Holy Prophet (PBUH) signed with Jews gave full protection to the fundamental rights of non-Muslims including religious freedom to practice their religion freely.
Gilani quoted a very famous incident from the Islamic history, to illustrate the spirit of harmony and brotherhood between Islam and minorities.
He narrated that once a 40-member Christian delegation from Nijran came to hold dialogue with the Holy Prophet (PBUH).
The Holy Prophet (PBUH) treated them as his personal guests and made them stay in the Prophet’s Mosque. When the members of delegation enquired about the place to pray, the Prophet (PBUH) allowed them to pray in the Prophet’s Mosque in accordance with their religious requirements, the Prime Minister said.
The human history fails to offer any such example of tolerance, harmony and brotherhood, Gilani said adding, “it is about time we rediscovered and highlighted our shared commonalities and values in the larger interest of peaceful coexistence and human development.”
The Prime Minister said it is honour of Pakistan People’s Party that the ministry for minorities’ affairs was established by the government of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.
In line with the party’s manifesto, the present government has made necessary institutional arrangements which guarantee safeguards for political participation and welfare of the minorities, he added.
Gilani said the government has taken a major step of reservation of five percent quota for minorities in the government, which will ensure their representation at all levels.
“We are making consistent efforts to impart a sense of equal citizenship so far as fundamental rights, safety, security, honour, life, liberty and properties of the minorities are concerned,” he added.
Prime Minister Gilani appreciated the role of religious scholars of different faiths who have consistently professed and practised the ideals of inter-faith harmony and brotherhood within the Pakistani nationhood.
He expressed the hope that minorities will continue to contribute and promote national harmony to build a tolerant Pakistan.
“Let us, on this day, dedicate ourselves to continue our journey along this road.”
Concluding his speech he quoted from the Quaid-e-Azam’s address to the Parsi community of Sindh in 1948 in which he said, “I assure you, Pakistan means to stand by its oft repeated promises of according equal rights to all its nationals irrespective of their caste or creed. Pakistan which symbolizes the aspirations of a nation that found itself to be a minority in the Indian subcontinent, cannot be unmindful of minorities within its own borders.”
Minister of State for National Harmony Akram Masih Gill said many steps have been taken by the PPP government for protection and promotion of minorities.
He said task of his ministry is to remove distrust and misunderstanding among different religions and achieve greater understanding, tolerance and respect for all.
The decision to celebrate minorities day reflects the commitment of the government to social uplift, economic empowerment and removal of discriminatory actions against the minorities, he said adding the day will promote peace and harmony in a multicultural society of Pakistan.
Bishop Andrew Francis said the religious minorities and specially Christians have always played a very important role in the building of a prosperous Pakistan especially in humanitarian assistance, education, health, defence and progress of Pakistan.
He paid homage to Shahbaz Bhatti for laying down his life while struggling for rights of minorities in Pakistan.
Federal ministers, parliamentarians and religious representatives attended the function. APP
In line with the party’s manifesto, the present government has made necessary institutional arrangements which guarantee safeguards for political participation and welfare of the minorities, he added.
Gilani said the government has taken a major step of reservation of five percent quota for minorities in the government, which will ensure their representation at all levels.
“We are making consistent efforts to impart a sense of equal citizenship so far as fundamental rights, safety, security, honour, life, liberty and properties of the minorities are concerned,” he added.
Prime Minister Gilani appreciated the role of religious scholars of different faiths who have consistently professed and practised the ideals of inter-faith harmony and brotherhood within the Pakistani nationhood.
He expressed the hope that minorities will continue to contribute and promote national harmony to build a tolerant Pakistan.
“Let us, on this day, dedicate ourselves to continue our journey along this road.”
Concluding his speech he quoted from the Quaid-e-Azam’s address to the Parsi community of Sindh in 1948 in which he said, “I assure you, Pakistan means to stand by its oft repeated promises of according equal rights to all its nationals irrespective of their caste or creed. Pakistan which symbolizes the aspirations of a nation that found itself to be a minority in the Indian subcontinent, cannot be unmindful of minorities within its own borders.”
Minister of State for National Harmony Akram Masih Gill said many steps have been taken by the PPP government for protection and promotion of minorities.
He said task of his ministry is to remove distrust and misunderstanding among different religions and achieve greater understanding, tolerance and respect for all.
The decision to celebrate minorities day reflects the commitment of the government to social uplift, economic empowerment and removal of discriminatory actions against the minorities, he said adding the day will promote peace and harmony in a multicultural society of Pakistan.
Bishop Andrew Francis said the religious minorities and specially Christians have always played a very important role in the building of a prosperous Pakistan especially in humanitarian assistance, education, health, defence and progress of Pakistan.
He paid homage to Shahbaz Bhatti for laying down his life while struggling for rights of minorities in Pakistan.
Federal ministers, parliamentarians and religious representatives attended the function. APP
