Minorities have rights to live in peace: Shehbaz

LAHORE: PMLN President and former prime minister Shehbaz Sharif has said the role of Christian and other non-Muslim communities in the development of Pakistan is worthy of praise and all the minorities living in the country have full right to live in peace.

He expressed these views while addressing Christian elders, scholars and bishops here on Thursday. He said Nawaz Sharif’s boundless compassion and love for the minorities living in Pakistan was as clear as day. During his time, a few sad incidents happened with the Christian community, but his government brought peace and justice by bringing the perpetrators of mischief to justice.

He said the founder of Pakistan, Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, told the nation that special emphasis be placed on religious, political and social freedom of the minorities living in Pakistan.

According to the vision of Nawaz Sharif, the effective representation and acceptance of non-Muslim communities in parliament has been a feature of the PMLN. Kamran Michael became a senator and later became a federal minister, which is the proof of Nawaz’s love and compassion for the minorities.

Meanwhile, at a press conference, PMLN leader and former federal minister Mussadik Malik said: “We are not happy with the punishment of PTI founder and his wife. The PMLN never celebrated anyone’s sorrow. We did not distribute sweets after their punishment. This decision is of a court and not of any party.”

He said Judge Muhammad Bashir was criticized when he sentenced the PTI founder but was called a believer when he punished others. The Supreme Court was made a trial court in cases against Nawaz Sharif under the supervision of a special judge and Nawaz fought all the cases with only two lawyers. “The first decision was that you did not include Toshakhana gifts in your assets, declared items worth Rs2 crore and bought them for Rs90 lakh.” He said when Nawaz Sharif’s wife was undergoing treatment in hospital, PTI people used to say she was joking. “Respect for one’s mother, daughter and sister is only on us not on the PTI?” he asked.