President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Friday extended warm greetings and felicitations to the Hindu community in Pakistan and around the world on the auspicious occasion of Diwali, reaffirming the country’s commitment to religious freedom, minority rights and interfaith harmony.
In their separate messages, both leaders highlighted the festival’s message of the triumph of light over darkness, good over evil and hope over despair, while emphasising the importance of compassion, tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Diwali symbolised the victory of light over hatred, intolerance and despair, conveying a profound message of peaceful coexistence in human relations and social life.
He described Pakistan’s Hindu community as a valued and integral part of the national fabric, appreciating its contributions to the country’s social, cultural and economic development.
The prime minister reaffirmed that the Constitution guarantees the religious and civil rights of minorities, adding that the government remained committed to protecting the rights, dignity and religious freedoms of all citizens, irrespective of religion, faith, colour or ethnicity.
He stressed that promoting religious harmony, mutual unity and respect was a shared responsibility, calling for collective efforts to build a peaceful, inclusive and prosperous nation where all citizens enjoyed equal educational and economic opportunities.
President Asif Ali Zardari, in his message, said Diwali’s symbolism of light over darkness and hope over despair reminded people of the importance of kindness, understanding, compassion and care.
He paid tribute to the Hindu community’s contributions to education, healthcare, business, public service, social welfare, arts and culture, reaffirming that Pakistan belonged equally to all its citizens.
Recalling Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s vision of equal citizenship, the president stressed that every citizen must be able to practise their faith freely, live with dignity and enjoy equal protection under the law.
He said protecting the rights of religious minorities was a shared responsibility and urged people to reject prejudice and discrimination while strengthening the bonds that united them as Pakistanis.
Both leaders called for renewed efforts to promote interfaith harmony, mutual respect and brotherhood, expressing hope that Diwali would bring happiness, prosperity and renewed hope to the Hindu community.
