News Desk
Lahore, December 15, 2024:
The Pakistan Masiha Millat Party (PMMP) has called on the government to declare a two-day public holiday on December 24 and 26 to mark the occasion of Christmas, similar to the holidays granted for Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha. The demand was made during a press conference held at the residence of PMMP Chairman and human rights activist Aslam Pervaiz Sahotra in Bahar Colony, Lahore.
Joined by PMMP Punjab President Liaquat Randhawa, Punjab Vice President Ilyas Masih Khokhar, Lahore President Chaudhry Akram Masih Jutt, and other party leaders including Changez Khan, Riasat William Bhatti, Pervaiz Michael, George Gill, and William Sardar, Sahotra emphasized the importance of the proposed holidays in fostering interfaith harmony, equality, and brotherhood between religious minorities and the majority.
Sahotra argued that designating these public holidays would not only honor the birth of Jesus Christ but also serve as a democratic and constitutional step toward addressing the challenges faced by the Christian community in Pakistan. He highlighted that such a move could alleviate the sense of deprivation and marginalization among Christians, while promoting inclusivity in a diverse society.
“The Christian community has faced repeated extremist acts, such as the burning of settlements and churches, forced conversions, and the forced marriages of underage Christian girls,” Sahotra stated. He added that the state has yet to take adequate measures to ensure justice and protection for Christians against such incidents.
Sahotra also criticized the system for selecting minority representatives, which was introduced following the 18th Amendment to the Constitution. He alleged that the amendment deprived religious minorities of their democratic right to elect their own representatives, instead giving the majority control over the selection process. This, he said, has exacerbated feelings of inequality and insecurity among the Christian population.
He further claimed that this system weakens and marginalizes the Christian community, drawing comparisons to the plight of oppressed Kashmiris. “Christians are being systematically sidelined under the pretense of integrating minorities into the national mainstream,” he remarked.
The PMMP leadership stressed that the declaration of two public holidays for Christmas would represent a meaningful step toward addressing these concerns. Such a move, they said, would reflect the government’s commitment to equality, interfaith harmony, and the rights of all religious communities in Pakistan.
The press conference concluded with a strong appeal for the government to take immediate action on the PMMP’s demands, emphasizing that this step would promote a more inclusive and harmonious society.
