Zealous Christmas observed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Fata

Zealous Christmas observed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Fata

Peshawar: (Monday, December 26, 2011), Just like the other parts of Pakistan, the Christian community celebrated Christmas with zeal and fervour in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and tribal areas.

It has been after a gap of five years when the Christian community in Peshawar celebrated the traditional Christmas fair at the St John Vianney Church near the Kohati Gate. The Christians could not arrange the traditional and famous
Christmas fair due to the worse law and order situation during the last few years.

There was no ban by the government for holding the funfair, but the community elders decided not to arrange the gathering due to security concerns for the past five years.

Special prayers were offered in different churches of the city. The community prayed for the progress and development of the country. Churches were decorated with X-mass trees and colourful lights.

The community members exchanged gifts including cakes. The families turned to Chacha Younas Park in Panj Teerath area of Hashtnagri and Kernal Sher Khan Stadium on the Khyber Road to enjoy the festivities of Christmas.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Senior Minister Bashir Bilour, minority member of the provincial assembly Asif Bhatti, Bishop of Peshawar and a large number of people from the Christian community participated in a ceremony held at the St John Vianney Church, Kohati Gate.

Bashir Bilour, in his speech, congratulated the community on the festival. He lauded the role played by them in the progress and development of the country.

He said the Awami National Party-led provincial government always supported and safeguarded the rights of minorities in the province.

In Ghallanai a colourful function was held in connection with the Christmas celebrations and attended by the Mohmand Rifles Deputy Commandant Col Iftikhar Khan, additional political agent, political tehsildars and others.

Leaders of Christian community Imran Raza and Nawaz, who had come from Peshawar to express solidarity with their Christian brethren, addressed the function. They said they would live and die for Pakistan and work for its development and prosperity.

They praised the officials for attending the Christmas celebrations. Events were held in other cities and the tribal agencies where small Christian communities live and work.

Short URL: https://www.newspakistan.pk/?p=7400

Posted by Fayyaz Yaseen on Dec 26 2011. Filed under Pakistan. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry