Despite minor gaffes by Pakistans usually clueless political class, Pakistanis joined their Christian compatriots and Christians worldwide in celebrating Christmas, recalling little known anecdotes from Pakistani and Islamic history about harmony between Islam and Christianity.
SPECIAL REPORT | Saturday | 25 December 2010
ISLAMABAD, PakistanPakistani Christians are the second largest religious group in Pakistan after Pakistani Muslims and active participants in Pakistans Independence Movement and in its defense, economic, and social development.
Pakistani soldiers posted at far-flung border regions joined the celebrations with their Pakistani Christian colleagues.
Senior police officers threw a lavish luncheon and party in the federal capital to fete Christian cops in a ceremony attended by federal governments Inspector General of Police, and the countrys chief executive, Premier Yousaf Raza Gilani visited Fatima Church in a suburb of Islamabad and congratulated the congregation there on Christmas. Both Gilani and President Zardari released special official messages to the nation.
Ordinary Pakistanis also joined in. In Pakistans largest city, Karachi, Mr. Ramzan Chhipa, a philanthropist and founder of one of the free medical ambulance services in the city, visited Karachis largest church, Saint Patricks Cathedral Church, and delivered a Christmas cake and a bouquet to Reverend Father Edward Joseph.
Pakistani Christians played a major role in the emergence of independent Pakistan in 1947. Christian representatives in Punjab assembly during British occupation voted in favor of Pakistan when leading Muslim feudal lords sided with the British and Indians.
Most Pakistanis are disturbed at the wrong application of a blasphemy law that has been used by individuals to settle business and other disputes with Pakistani Christians. Most Pakistanis are in favor of reforming the law to stop its abuse.
There are also two enduring anecdotes from Islamic history that strengthen Muslim-Christian bonds in Pakistan.
Prophet Mohammad, peace be on him, when marrying a Coptic Christian slave gifted by an Egyptian priest allowed her to keep her Christian name and refused to have her change it into an Arabic or Muslim name. This is how the name Maria, or Mary in English, became part of Arab Islamic culture.
Also, the second Muslim Caliph Omar bin Khattab, after conquering Jerusalem, declined to offered a unique protection to a sacred Christian church. This is how Sacredt Destinations recounts the incident:
In 638, the Christians were forced to surrender Jerusalem to Muslim control under caliph Omar. In a remarkable gesture for the time, Omar refused to pray in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, saying, "If I had prayed in the church it would have been lost to you, for the Believers [Muslims] would have taken it saying: Omar prayed here.
Prime Minister Gilani committed a minor gaffe in some analysts view yesterday when he visited Fatima Church in the heart of Islamabad. He inadvertently dragged the church into the war against terrorists on the Afghan border. At the church, Mr. Gilani is reported to have said that extremists are sowing seeds of hatred among communities, in a reference to conservative or extremist Muslims. Some analysts said the church was not the best place for the Pakistani prime minister to grandstand on Americas war on terror.
Also, many government officials including the President and Prime Minister used the word minority to refer to Pakistani Christians, who are citizens with equal status in the development and defense of Pakistan. Some experts suggested Pakistani government needs to use better phrases, such as Pakistani Christians or Pakistanis with Christian heritage and avoid the use of the word minority which denotes separation and victimhood.
and than trying to prove our 'innocence' by giving these kinda 'evidence'.
