Christmas being celebrated today
By Bushra Rafique

ISLAMABAD—Like other parts of the world Christian community in Pakistan is celebrating Christmas today with zeal and fervor.
To mark the occasion, churches have been decorated, besides illuminating homes and trees. Both electronic and print media would present special programmes highlighting the importance of the day.
Congratulating the christian community on Christmas, the President General Pervez Musharraf said in a message that the Constitution of Pakistan lays down the provision for minorities to freely profess and practice their religions and the government would safeguard their legitimate interests in the country.
“Minorities are a sacred trust for us. The founder of the nation Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, even before the creation of Pakistan, had unequivocally declared a policy of equality, freedom and security for all communities irrespective of their religion, profession or ethnic origin,” the President said.
While, the Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz in a message on Christmas said, “the government is resolved to ensure that they (minorities) should continue to enjoy equal rights, as guaranteed in the Constitution.”
He said “On the auspicious occasion of Christmas, I extend my heartiest greetings and felicitations to all christians of the world, especially in Pakistan. I wish them all happiness and prosperity on my own behalf and on behalf of the people of Pakistan.”