Adil Najam
Christmas Greetings from all our Christian readers in Pakistan, and around the world. On this auspicious day, we at ATP join in them in praying for peace and goodwill to all.
Both Owais and I are in Pakistan these days – Owais in Karachi and I in Islamabad – and it was heartening to see Christmas being celebrated with zeal here in Islamabad (especially, a colony where a number of Christians live in F-6 was lit up elegantly and beautifully). Also heartening to me were the photographs above.
I know, I know. Most will say these are PR photos and therefore meaningless. PR photos, they certainly are. But they are not meaningless. The message that is being conveyed is important to convey – and repeatedly – even when those conveying it may be doing so only for political reasons. Because the message spreads. And this message – that Pakistan is a country of all Pakistanis, of all religions and creed – is one that must never be forgotten.
Of the pictures above the one with Prime Minister Gillani is from last week – at a multi-faith Christmas celebration – and the one with Santa Clause and Nawaz Sharif is from last year. Of course, many interesting captions could be concocted about the third photograph but one hopes that the message that we really take is the message that Mr. Jinnah – whose birthday we celebrate today – would have wanted us to take. Pakistan is for all Pakistanis, of all faiths, of all believes, of all creeds.
It is in the same spirit that we also share with you these wonderful pictures of various churches in Pakistan decorated for Christmas this year (churches in Islamabad, Lahore, Quetta, Islamabad, Nowshehra Virkan, Rawalpindi, and Karachi respectively).
We hope you have seen before our post on the historic and modern churches in Pakistan. If you have not, today would be a good day to do so.
Once again, Christmas greetings from all our Christian readers in Pakistan, and around the world. And praying of peace and goodwill to all.
has anyone noticed the poor eager hand in the second picture? i simply admire the person to whom that hand belongs because it announces his invisible presence more emphatically than those who have been photographed here with the sharif brothers.
Three cheers for Pakistanis for celebrating the Christmas in Pakistan with style.
These joyous pictures gave me reasons to google images across the world. And lo, the chords of multi-colored lights garland around the structure of churches is perhaps only the Pakistani way of celebrating it right.
Tens of thousands of Christians in India and Pakistan are languishing in refugee camps on December 25, 2009, majority of them in Orissa, India, but some in other places like Gojra, Pakistan. As we wish our Christian brethren Merry Christmas today, let’s not forget their suffering in South Asia on this Christmas Day, and do what each of us can to alleviate their fear and pain.
Let’s also remember that today is also the birthday of Pakistan’s founder Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah who stood for equal rights for all of Pakistani citizens, including its Christian and Hindu minorities.
http://www.riazhaq.com/2009/12/south-asian-christi ans-celebrate.html
Merry Xmas and wish you all very happy and peaceful New Year