LAHORE:
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Sunday that Pakistan celebrates the Independence Day this week, but the reign of oppression and persecution being inflicted upon the Palestinians by Israel in Gaza had saddened the nation.
Addressing a function to commemorate the National Minorities Day at the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) head office in Model Town, Lahore, the prime minister reaffirmed his government’s commitment to safeguarding the rights of minorities as enshrined in the Constitution.
He said that the Independence Day celebrations were due this week, and the nation celebrated the Minorities Day. “But unfortunately, we are not happy while seeing the oppression and persecution that is being inflicted in Gaza,” Shehbaz said.
He condemned the violence in Gaza and denounced the atrocities committed by the Israeli government under its Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He criticised the global community’s muted response to these acts, calling it a grave failure of international organisations tasked with maintaining global peace.
“The Israeli government is massacring the Muslims. Yesterday, at dawn, Muslims were bombarded, they were martyred there, including children. Fire is raining down upon Palestine day and night and the world is silent,” he lamented. “There is no example of such cruelty and tyranny in history.”
He said that international institutions created decades ago to establish peace in the world were just passing resolutions, and nobody gave any value to their words. “Israeli aggression is only answered with rhetoric and nothing more,” he said.
In his address, the prime minister emphasised the significance of August 11 that commemorated Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s historic speech that advocated equal rights for all citizens of Pakistan, irrespective of their religion.
Shehbaz reiterated that Quaid-i-Azam had envisioned a Pakistan where everyone, including Muslims and minorities, would enjoy complete freedom to practice their faiths – a vision that continued to guide the country till date.
He recalled that on this day in 1947, the Quaid made a historic statement that everyone in Pakistan would be granted equal rights.
He added a Muslim would have full freedom to pray in the mosque and those from the minorities were free to go to their temples, churches, and Gurdwaras.
“This is the historical background in which we are gathered here,” he said, adding that the Christian community’s missionary schools provided education to millions of boys and girls, Hindu judges played their role for the cause of justice and the Parsi community made a name for itself in trade and business.
He highlighted the contributions of Christian, Hindu, Sikh, and Parsi communities in various sectors, including education, defence, trade, and justice. He paid special tribute to minority figures who have served the nation in times of war and peace, citing examples of Cecil Chaudhry and Justice Cornelius.
“Who does not know the services of Cecil Chaudhry during the war. Dr Ruth Fau spent her entire life in Pakistan serving the sick. Even today, when people get sick [in Lahore], they visit Ganga Ram Hospital. As long as this hospital lasts, people will remember it.”
He welcomed minority representatives and military officers, highlighting the diverse make-up of the nation. Appreciating the contributions of the minority communities in the nation building, the prime minister acknowledged their significant role in the country’s progress and prosperity.
The prime minister pointed out that there were federal and provincial ministers, as well as officers in the Pakistan Army, who belonged to the minority communities. “Whether it is time of war or the time of peace, everyone has played their role.”
The prime minister mentioned that it was not too long ago when there were incidents of terrorism, in which minority community officers and soldiers sacrificed their lives. “I went to the GHQ and joined the function in their honour.
He also highlighted the role of minority communities in the creation of Pakistan, saying that the then Punjab Assembly resolution for the establishment of Pakistan was supported by the minority community members. “This is a part of history and it is not an ordinary thing, these are watershed moments.”
The prime minister also recognised the historic challenges faced by minorities in Pakistan, emphasising the need for continuing efforts at federal and provincial levels to ensure their security and protection. He reassured them that the government was committed to improving their quality of life.
Shehbaz emphasised that the minorities had a key role in the development of Pakistan. “There is no doubt that the minority communities have shown a lasting commitment to Pakistan for which the entire nation admired them,” he said.
He stated that the PML-N, under the leadership of Nawaz Sharif, had always advocated for the inclusion and protection of minorities. He reaffirmed that his government would ensure that minorities continued to play an integral role in the nation’s future.
Speaking on the occasion, Information Minister Ataullah Tarar vowed to raise his voice at every forum to protect the rights of minorities. “We are proud of the minorities. The minority communities have always played a positive role in the establishment of peace in the country,” he said.
The event was also attended by ministers Azam Nazir Tarar, Ramesh Singh Arora and Chaudhry Salik Hussain, senior PML-N leader Khawaja Saad Rafique, members of the national and provincial and provincial assemblies, minority community elders and officers and others.
