While evaluating the significance as well as patriotic role of minorities, especially Christians in the economic and social development of the country, Advisor to Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Dr Shahzad Waseem has said that monitories are an integral part of the nation and protection of their rights is enshrined in the Constitution and doing so will lead to national peace and interfaith harmony.
“We are an Islamic society and our religion promotes peace, love and brotherhood. There is no discrimination in Islam on the basis of caste, color, creed and religion. It is the responsibility of the State to take all minorities into the mainstream life so that the sense of deprivation does not arise among them,” Dr Shehzad said while addressing a ceremony held in the kachi abadi (slum area) of G-7/2 Sector here on Tuesday as part of the Christmas celebrations.
A large number of Christians including women and children led by their leaders namely Shehbaz Ahmed, Akbar Yousuf and Hameed Hadayat were present on the occasion.
The PTI leader, accompanied by the party’s local leaders Sajid Malik, Ilyas Balti, Mubashir and Sabtain on the occasion, recalled that Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah was the harbinger of a strong Pakistan where all minorities’ rights were protected under the Constitution. Ceicel Chaudhry, S.K. Tressler and other prominent leaders and parliamentarians have remarkable services for the nation, he said.
“PTI strongly believes that minorities are a patriotic segment of the Pakistani nation and Christians in particular have significant contributions in all sectors of our national life. Ensuring minorities’ rights protection is the core agenda of our party’s manifesto and if it gets power, it will make all-out efforts to take them into the national mainstream life,” Dr Shahzad said while reiterating his party’s stance.
While talking about the civic problems of the Christian colonies in the federal capital, the PTI leader observed solidarity with the dwellers of these slums and stressed the need for the provision of basic amenities like sanitation, potable water, health centres on priority basis in these areas. On the occasion, the community leaders appreciated the PTI stance towards minorities and said that they have complete confidence in the leadership of PTI Chairman Imran Khan who had emerged as a strong national political leader by addressing the issues faced by the common man of Pakistan. They also assured of their complete support to the PTI in the upcoming national elections. Later, Dr Shahzad distributed Christmas gifts among children.
