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.
@Nusrat
Well Jinnah in his early part of career was part of congress and struggled for united india, but soon he realised that congress is dominated by hindus who are prejuduiced agaist muslims
therefore he had no choice but to struggle for these muslims who under united india will always be second class / third class humans. However, in reaction he did not say i want to struggle for a country for muslims…he said i want to stuggle for a country for muslims but UNLIKE prejuduiced indians dominating congress at that time….our country WILL NOT be prejudiced. he wanted a model secular state by muslims.
you probably need to go and read history. good and bad people are e where. unfortunately hindus dominating congress at that time were not willing to share power with muslim minority. I dont see how u can blame jinnah who struggled for paksitan where muslim can for a change become majority, live in dignity, and progress. In dreaming this he did not have any plans to penalize minorities. he wanted a secular state where no one is penalized. in united india we had no hope as muslims. if u want to blame anyone please blame congress fro dividing india.
As a Pakistani Christian I am appreciate this post and all the good wishes in the comments.
@Nusrat
I will just try to explain this.( ATP admin can freely moderate my comments.)
Well, whats the state of Muslims in India today, I know they are in show biz but not all of them, if we look at collective state of Muslims in India, they are still marked as incompetent in many areas. They are denied college admissions. They are not encouraged at schools, they are not given promotions at IS levels. now this applies to large part of Muslim community, if you are thinking about Azeemji premji. Whats the difference between indian and Pakistanis Muslims. yes, Pakistani Muslims are CEOs of Multinational Operatives in Pakistan. They are heard. Pakistan has oldest religious buildings that belong to Hindus, Christians and Sikhs, They are never set ablaze or occupied by Radical Groups claiming it was ours once upon a time. No one from religious Political parties in pakistan has said anything against any community that could create fear from them. yeah, I agree with it. Toba Tek Singh issue was one the that happened once in 50 years. Creation of Pakistan has reasons.
There is enough to talk on this and it can be very big debate. not something that ATP promotes. We respect and recognise India and expect the same from them.
Love the pictures of the churches. Wish you had put those on the top.
My best wishes to all Christian Pakistanis.
According to Gen Kayani:
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Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani has said that Pakistan was achieved in the name of Islam and the religion can never be expelled from the country.
No One Can Separate Islam and Pakistan, Gen Kayani
The COAS said that no one can separate Islam from Pakistan as the country was achieved in its name. He said that Pakistan Army will succeed in its bid to root out extremism from the country in cooperation with the nation and the media.
Announcing Rs 20 million for the martyrs of NWFP Police, Gen. Kayani said that the all kinds of needed weapons and ammunitions would be provided to police to make its progress better.
Earlier, Chief of Army Staff General was received by Corps Commander Lt. Gen. Muhammad Masood Aslam at Peshawar Airport when he arrived here on a day-long visit on Wednesday.
He will also visited Lady Reading Hospital to express solidarity with the bomb blast victims.
The Army Chief is schedule to meet Governor NWFP Owais Ahmad Ghani, Chief Minister Ameer Haider Khan Hoti, tribal elders and students later in the day.
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Source: http://www.apakistannews.com/no-one-can-separate-i slam-and-pakistan-gen-kayani-148814