Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Lahore (Agenzia Fides) – The Church in Pakistan has congratulated the new President of the country, Asif Ali Zardari, elected on September 6 (see Fides 8/9/2008), and who officially took office today, swearing fidelity to the Constitution and becoming Pakistan’s 12th President.
Explaining that he had prayed for the new leader, “that the Lord would protect and conserve his good health,” the Christian community sincerely hopes that the President will “bring unity, peace and progress to the nation” and see to the guaranteeing of rights for religious minorities. This was what was stated in a letter sent to President Zardari from Archbishop Lawrence Saldanha of Lahore, President of the Pakistani Bishops’ Conference.
In the text of the letter, a copy of which was sent to the Agenzia Fides Editing Team, it says: “We express our sincere hope that the members of religious minorities, which are a small number of people, may enjoy respect for their legitimate rights, as citizens of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, and that they may be protected by all possible aggressions carried out by fundamentalists and extremists.”
On behalf of the Bishops of Pakistan, Archbishop Saldanha informs the President of the hope that “under his leadership the country may grow and be prosperous, counting on full support and collaboration from the Catholic community in building a better Pakistan, according to the dream of Benazir Bhutto,” President Zardari’s wife who also served as a leader of Pakistan and who was killed in an attack in December 2007.
The Church indicates the danger of instability and the vengence of the extremist groups that place the normal process of democracy, social life, and respect for basic human rights in jeopardy. This also leads to a climate of tension and hostility, especially for religious minorities, among whom are the Christian communities. Especially in the northwest part of Pakistan, the faithful are subject to continual violence and threats and every day they risk their lives, at the mercy of the terrorist groups in the area. The National Justice and Peace Commission, within the Bishops’ Conference, has collected many testimonies and requests for aid from the communities of faithful in the Northwest Province, where Islamic fundamentalist groups are still active.
The most delicate matters mentioned in the letter to the new President were: the prospects for religious minorities in the democratic system; the role, functions, and potential of civil society in Pakistan; human rights, religious freedom, education, and the law on blasphemy. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 9/9/2008)
