President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in separate messages on the occasion of National Minorities Day, stated that every citizen of Pakistan has the complete right to live according to their faith and religion without fear or discrimination. Both leaders emphasized the state’s commitment to providing equal opportunities and protecting religious freedom for all its citizens.
In his message, President Asif Ali Zardari said that Islam not only recognizes the rights of minorities but also fully guarantees their protection. He added that National Minorities Day is observed every year in acknowledgment of the positive role of minority communities in Pakistan’s social and economic development. The President reaffirmed that the government remains committed to fulfilling the pledge made by Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah on August 11, 1947, ensuring that minorities enjoy all political, economic, and social rights guaranteed by the Constitution of Pakistan.
President Zardari further said that a 5% quota has been reserved for minorities in government jobs, seats have been allocated for them in both houses of Parliament, and scholarships are provided to minority students. Funds are also allocated for the renovation and maintenance of their places of worship. He stressed that every citizen in Pakistan has the right to live free from discrimination based on religion, caste, color, or race, and the state is determined to provide minorities with equal opportunities for advancement.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in his message, extended good wishes to all minorities in Pakistan and paid tribute to their remarkable contributions to the country’s progress and prosperity. He said that officially observing National Minorities Day reflects solidarity with minority communities and acknowledges their services to the state of Pakistan. He recalled that the minority community played a significant and pivotal role in the Pakistan Movement.
The Prime Minister also reminded that Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, in his historic speech to the Constituent Assembly on August 11, 1947, had announced complete religious freedom for minorities. He reiterated that the Government of Pakistan is committed to protecting the rights of minorities and will continue to take practical measures for their development and well-being.
