Pakistani president pledges to fight for Christians’ rights

(December 28, 2009) Pakistani president Asif Ali Zardari has felicitated the country’s Christians on the occasion of Christmas pledging his party’s efforts to uphold their rights. Zardari released a message on Christmas Eve, Dec. 24 saying the commemoration of Jesus’ birth is a reminder to all of us of the teachings of Jesus Christ who always spread the message of love, forgiveness and brotherhood among the people without any prejudice and discrimination. He expressed hope that the Christian Community in Pakistan… will continue to play their positive and constructive role in society. The Pakistani president said he was proud to announce that Christains were a law-abiding and loyal community and all were proud of their tremendous contributions to the advancement and development of the country. Zardari, who is also co-chairperson of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), reiterated his party’s commitment to continue to fight along with the nation’s Christians for the rights of all minorities and deprived people to establish a liberal and pluralistic society in the country in which every citizen is allowed to participate freely in the social, political and economic development… irrespective of cast, creed and colour." "Let me also reiterate on this occasion our pledge that the PPP will continue to uphold the rights of Christians, indeed of all minorities, to be treated as equal citizens of the state and allowed to partake in its development on an equal footing", Zardari vowed.