President and PM urge peace, tolerance, unity

In messages to the Christian community in Pakistan and across the world on Christmas, President Mamnoon Hussain and Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi have said that it is the day to reiterate the universal teachings of patience, tolerance, kindness and goodwill, not only for the Christians but for all of mankind.
In his message on Christmas celebrations yesterday, the president said that peace and happiness can be brought back to the world, which is engaged in conflict of interests and wars, by adopting these virtues.
“The lesson that we learn from the teachings of Jesus Christ is that life and property of all people living on this planet should be given equal respect and protection without discriminating on the basis of colour, caste, region and belief,” he said.
Hussain said that human beings should not be made into fuel for fighting wars for materialistic interests.
Instead, the president said, valuable resources should be spent on the welfare and development of humanity.
This is the best way to commemorate Jesus Christ, Hussain added.
He said that the services rendered by the Christian community for progress and stability of the country, particularly in the fields of medicine and education, are greatly valued by the people and the government.
Hussain said that the Constitution of Pakistan guarantees equal rights to all minority communities, including Christians, and the government is fulfilling its constitutional and moral responsibilities in this regard.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Abbasi praised the Christian community from across the globe on Christmas, appreciating the efforts of Pakistan’s Christian community for socio-economic development of their homeland.
“We are proud of our Christian brethren. They are an integral part of our multicultural polity, and I am confident that their patriotic contributions will continue to accelerate the pace of Pakistan’s progress,” he said in his message on the occasion of Christmas.
He said that much more than festivity and celebration, the spirit of Christmas is to share, to reach out, and to love all of humanity.
Abbasi said that Jesus Christ brought and preached the message of peace, brotherhood and love for humanity, guiding people towards virtuous living and urging them to seek divine mercy.
He also paid the highest tribute to the sacrifices made by the Christian brethren in Pakistan’s fight against terrorism.
“Our commitment to this fundamental principle is firmly grounded in the teachings of Islam, the vision of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, and the inviolable guarantees of our Constitution,” Abbasi remarked.