The 138th birth anniversary of the founder of Pakistan Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah was celebrated throughout the country on Thursday.
Political parties and social, cultural and educational institutions chalked out various programmes to highlight the life and achievements of the Quaid with special reference to Pakistan Movement and his guiding principles of unity, faith and discipline.
It was a public holiday and national flag was hoisted atop all public and private buildings. Qur’an Khawani was also held at the Mazar-e-Quaid in Karachi. Later, a change of Guard’s ceremony was held at the Mazar-e-Quaid in which cadets of Pakistan Military Academy Kakul took over the guard duties at the Quaid’s mausoleum.
The birth anniversary of Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah dawned with 21 guns salute followed by a simple and impressive change of guard ceremony at his mausoleum.
A contingent of cadets from PakistanMilitaryAcademy, Kakul assumed the guard responsibility consequent to a brief parade viewed by their Commandant Maj-Gen Nadeem Raza.
Governor of Sindh, Dr Ishrat-ul-Ebad and Senior Minister of the province, Muhammad Nisar Khuhro, Special Assistant to the Chief Minister Sindh, Sharmila Farooqui along with representatives of the three armed forces and citizens also attended the ceremony. Later, the dignitaries offered fateha at the Mazar-e-Quaid.
President, PM extend greetings to Christians
President Mamnoon Hussain and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif have reiterated the government’s resolve to pursue the policies aimed at creating greater harmony and cohesion among people of different faiths.
In their separate messages on Christmas on Thursday, they extended heartiest greetings to the Christian brethren all over the world and in particular to those living in Pakistan.
They acknowledged the valuable contributions made by the Christian brethren in Pakistan in all fields. The president categorically stated that “we will not permit persecution of members of other faiths in the name of religion in the country”.
He said the equality of all citizens of the state has been enshrined in the constitution. In his message, the prime minister said the government treats all minority citizens as equal citizens of Pakistan and undertakes to empower them to use their abilities for national development.
He said the sanctity of existence and equality of opportunity enjoyed by all Pakistanis, including minorities, will be ensured.
Rights of minorities will be protected: president
President Mamnoon Hussain has assured that the rights of minorities will be protected.
Addressing a ceremony in connection with Christmas Day in Quetta on Thursday, he said minorities were equal Pakistanis and they had always played an important role for the progress of the country in different sectors.
Referring to the issue of terrorism, he said a handful of misguided elements were shedding blood of the innocent. He said attack on a school in Peshawar was as horrific and barbaric as the one carried out on a Church in the provincial capital last year.
Reiterating the government’s determination to wipe out terrorism, the president said the government’s goal was to bring peace and prosperity in the lives of the people.
