Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has announced Monday as a holiday for the Hindu community.
Murad said that the Deewali was falling on Sunday – which is already a public holiday – so Monday’s holiday is being given as a gift from the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) government for the Hindu Community residing in the province. “I am with you in Deewali celebrations. Enjoy yourself with your family, with your relatives and with community,” chief minister said.
Murad directed Chief Secretary Siddique Memon to issue the necessary notification for Monday as Diwali holiday only for the Hindu community.
On the other hand, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has directed electricity officials to ensure uninterrupted power supply to Sindh to facilitate people on the occasion of Deewali.
Pakistan Peoples Party’s Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has extended Deewali greetings to Hindus all over the world and appreciated the announced gesture of Pakistani Hindus for scaling down the festivities in the country in order to express solidarity with the martyrs of Quetta Police Training College terrorist attack.
In a message on the eve of Diwali being celebrated across the world on Sunday, the PPP chairman said that Diwali festival traditionally symbolises the victory of good over evil and we need to understand the very essence of the festival and pray for the defeat of all kinds of evil in the whole world.
He said that PPP had always extended support to the minority community to observe their religious rituals and festivals with full freedom as there was no discrimination allowed in our country on the basis of caste, creed, ethnicity or religion.
Bilawal said that his party was true heir of the ideology and commitment of the founding fathers of Pakistan and its leaders and Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto laid down their lives along with thousands of Jiyalas and supporters for this ideology. Providing legal and constitutional protection to the non-Muslim citizens remains the key part of this ideology.
PPP Chairman further said that he was glad to hear that Hindu community would hold special prayers on the occasion of Diwali for the martyrs of Quetta terrorist attack and prosperity and progress of Pakistan.
Meanwhile, CM’s Special Assistant Dr Khatu Mal Jeevan, has greeted Hindu community on the occasion of Deewali.
In a statement on Saturday he urged the Hindu community that while celebrating Deewali they should not forget the martyrs of recent Quetta attack and organise special prayers at all worship places and light lamps to pay homage to them.