பாகிஸ்தான் : தீபாவளி வாழ்த்து சொன்னார் பிரதமர் சர்தாரி

Zardari greets Hindu community in Pakistan on Diwali



Islamabad, Oct 28 (PTI) Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari today greeted the country's Hindu community on the festival of Diwali, saying the government led by his Pakistan People's Party is committed to protecting the rights of minority communities.
"I wish to extend on my behalf, on behalf of the PPP and on behalf of the people of Pakistan heartiest greetings to the Hindu community on the occasion of Diwali," he said in a statement.

The government believes that Hindus and all minorities of Pakistan are equal citizens and must be given equal rights, including the right to vote for all candidates along with Muslim voters, he said.

Zardari said he was happy that as a result of the political struggle, the provision in the original constitution of 1973 for joint electorate had been restored and the religious apartheid foisted on the nation ended.

The liberal democratic forces in the country have been at the forefront in protecting the rights of minorities in accordance with the teachings of Pakistan's founder Mohammad Ali Jinnah and late PPP founder Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.

The new democratic government believed in the principles enunciated by Jinnah that all citizens, irrespective of their religion and social status, were equal citizens and enjoyed equal rights.

Meanwhile, the Hindu community today celebrated Diwali with great zeal across Pakistan. Hindus, the country's second largest minority after Christians, organised special programmes to mark the festival. Houses were illuminated with diyas (earthen lamps) to welcome Lakshami, the Hindu Goddess of wealth and prosperity.

They also decorated the doors of their homes with colours to indicate the long-awaited arrival of the Goddess. PTI

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