Altaf Hamid Rao.
MIRPUR (AJK), (Parliament times) :: In Azad Jammu Kashmir, Christmas, the birth day of Jesus Christ (AS) – the religious festival of Christian fraternity, was also celebrated across the liberated territory including all three districts of Mirpur division on Monday with fullest traditional religious fervor and devotion and with the renewal of the pledge to continue spreading the teachings of Jesus Christ (AS) for maintaining complete harmony, brotherhood and love and affection among the humanity.
The Christian community in the State prayed through special prayer services for the progress, prosperity and sovereignty of Pakistan and the freedom of Occupied Jammu and Kashmir from long Indian subjugation. They prayed for the unity, solidarity, progress and prosperity of Pakistan coupled with the renewal of the pledge to perform an active individual and collective role for the stability, progress and prosperity of Pakistan side by side the majority Muslim community of the country.
Special Christmas ceremonies were hosted at Mangla (Mirpur), the main abode of Christian community in the district, under the auspices of Christian Welfare Foundation the central organization of local Christian community and other representative organizations of the Christian community with the support andd coordination of the local social welfare and public representative organizations of the majority muslim community, in Mirpur district to celebrate the Christmas with great enthusiasm and devotion and religious zeal and fervor.
The ceremonies were also attended by large number of people from classes of the Christian community. The venues of the ceremonies were beautifully decorated with colorful buntings and banners. Special gifts were distributed among the children and the social workers
Addressing the ceremonies, speakers – the leaders of Christian Welfare Foundation including Parish Priest Reverend Father Loyees Aakash, Babu Arshad Nazim Mouzan, Javed Gull, President Christian community Organization, local Supreme Head of the Foundation Younis Bhatti Tariq Gull and others said that the Jesus Christ (AS) gave the message of love and affection and tolerance, which, they added, is required to be observed by all classes of the humanity to establish peace and harmony across the globe. They said that all segments of the society shall have to work collectively above the religious difference for the sake of safety and eternity of the humanity.
Speakers vowed to lend all of potential and capabilities for the speedy progress, prosperity, solidarity and integrity of the country and promoting and maintaining complete harmony and brotherhood among all classes of the society.
Earlier addressing, a day earlier, a largely-attended ceremony marking the advent of the Christmas celebrations in Azad Jammu Kashmir, here, Christian community leader Younis Bhatti reiterated his community’s resolve by declaring that the minorities in Pakistan including Azad Jammu Kashmir will not lag behind to serve for the speedy progress and prosperity of the country including AJK side by side their fellow countrymen belonging to the majority Muslim community of the country.
Prominent local Christian leaders also addressed the ceremony, according to the chief host of the major ceremony.
Bhatti, also the Executive Member of National Council of Christian said that minorities including Christian community in the country including AJK were enjoying full liberty to perform their religious rites and other obligations – since they were enjoying an excellent life coupled with all benefits along with other fellow-countrymen.
Younis Bhatti continued that because of the liberal approach of the government and the people of Pakistan and Azad Jammu Kashmir, the soil of motherland – Pakistan and AJK are the paradise for the minority communities where there was complete sovereignty and freedom to them to perform their religious and other due obligations.
He declared that the minority Christian community will not hesitate to give any sacrifice to make the Kashmir freedom movement complete success. Since the minorities are bent upon to pay their due share for the achievement of Kashmiris legitimate right to self determination, he added.
Bhattil said that the minorities will bring about all of their potentials for the speedy progress, prosperity and uplift of the country and will leave no stone unturned to make the defense of the country more stronger up to the required extent.
Younis Bhatti said that all religious festival of Christian community including Easter and Christmas are celebrated every year with fullest religious solemnity and fervor. The meeting marked the day of pledge to serve for the maintenance of religious obligations by the community besides for the welfare of the community and uplift and prosperity of the country including AJK.
He said that there was complete freedom to the minorities including Christians in Azad Jammu Kashmir to perform their religious rights and other traditional and cultural obligations like other parts of Pakistan at par with the majority Muslim population of the country.
Participants also offered special prayers for the speedy progress, prosperity and security and stability of the country and early liberation of occupied Jammu & Kashmir from the Indian unlawful occupation.
