Altaf Hameed Rao
MIRPUR (AJK): Like rest of the world including Pakistan and Azad Jammu Kashmir, Christmas, the birth day of Jesus Christ (AS) – the religious festival of Christian fraternity, was also celebrated in AJK 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 area prayed through special prayer services for the progress, prosperity and sovereignty of Pakistan and the freedom of Occupied 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 role for the stability, progress and prosperity of Pakistan side by side the majority muslim community of the country.
Special Christmas functions were held at Mangla (Mirpur) and the local District Council Hall under the auspices of Christian Welfare Trust, the central organization of local Christian community, with the coordination of the local social welfare and public representative organizations of the Muslims, 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 Trust including Bishop Haroon, Younis Bhatti 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.