President Zardari, PM Shehbaz greet Hindu community on Diwali

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday extended warm greetings to the Hindu community in Pakistan and around the world on the joyous occasion of Diwali, reaffirming the government’s commitment to protecting minority rights and promoting religious harmony.

In separate messages, the president and prime minister highlighted the festival’s message of the triumph of good over evil, light over darkness and hope over despair, while acknowledging the contributions of Pakistan’s Hindu community to national development.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Diwali symbolises the triumph of light over the darkness of hatred, intolerance and despair, adding that the festival conveys a profound message of peaceful coexistence in human relations and social life.

He described the Hindu community as a valued and integral part of Pakistan’s national fabric, saying its contributions to the country’s social, cultural and economic development deserved the highest appreciation.

The prime minister said Pakistan took immense pride in its religious and cultural diversity, describing the country’s diverse traditions as a valuable social asset.

He reaffirmed that the Constitution guarantees the religious and civil rights of minorities and said the government remained firmly committed to safeguarding the rights, dignity and religious freedoms of all citizens, irrespective of religion, faith, colour or ethnicity.

“Promoting religious harmony, mutual unity and respect is our shared responsibility,” he said.

Shehbaz Sharif said the collective resolve should be to build a peaceful, inclusive and prosperous nation that embraces diverse cultures and traditions while ensuring equal educational and economic opportunities for all citizens.

He urged people to renew their commitment to interfaith harmony, strengthen bonds of fraternity and brotherhood, and work towards a future based on peace, tolerance and mutual understanding.

The prime minister expressed hope that Pakistani Hindus celebrating Diwali would enjoy the festival’s traditions and share its message of peace, goodwill, happiness, prosperity and hope.

Meanwhile, President Asif Ali Zardari said Diwali’s message of compassion and renewal reminded people that they could bring light into others’ lives through kindness, understanding, compassion and care.

He said Pakistan’s Hindu community was an integral part of national life, with its contributions to education, healthcare, business, public service, social welfare, arts and culture enriching the country.

The president paid tribute to the community’s contributions and reaffirmed that Pakistan belonged equally to all its citizens.

Recalling the vision of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Zardari said the founder of Pakistan had envisioned a country where faith, caste or creed would not become barriers to equal citizenship and rights.

He stressed the need to ensure that every citizen could practise their faith freely, live with dignity and enjoy equal protection under the law.

“For me, Quaid-e-Azam’s promise of equal citizenship is a sacred national commitment,” he said, adding that the Pakistan Peoples Party’s tradition, carried forward by former prime ministers Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto, also called for defending that promise without fear or favour.

“No Pakistani should ever have to prove their belonging because of their faith. This country is their home, its freedoms are their right, and its future is theirs to shape,” the president said.

Zardari said Diwali also provided an opportunity to strengthen the bonds uniting Pakistanis, adding that sharing one another’s celebrations, supporting each other during difficult times and rejecting prejudice and discrimination could help build a more just and compassionate society.

He described diversity as a national strength and said protecting the rights of religious minorities was a shared responsibility.

Concluding his message, the president extended his good wishes to families celebrating the festival, expressing hope that the light of Diwali would bring joy to their homes, comfort to those facing difficulties and renewed hope for the year ahead.

“Happy Diwali! Pakistan Zindabad!” he said.