Lesson from Pakistan

News from Pakistan with regard to Baha'i Ridvan celebration:
ISLAMABAD—Federal Minister for Minorities Affairs Shahbaz Bhatti has said the government is making sincere efforts to resolve all problems confronted by the minorities across the country. Addressing “Eid-i-Ridvan” celebrations organized here by the Ministry of Minorities, a religious festival of Bahai community, the Minister said the government is promoting culture of tolerance, harmony and peaceful co-existence in the country. The Minister congratulated the Bahai community on their religious festival and appreciated their role for the progress of the country. 
“Promotion of interfaith harmony is need of the hour which can defuse tendencies of violence, extremism and terrorism,” the Minister said. The minister said that every religion preaches peace, tolerance and humanity and “we appreciate the contribution of all the communities for the progress and stability of the country.” Bhatti said the government is making best efforts for minorities’ welfare throughout the country under the democratic government led by President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani. “The government is committed to uplift the minorities and to bring them at par with other segments of society,” he added.
“We can meet all the challenges confronting the country including terrorism and extremism through promoting religious harmony and national unity,” he added. The Minister said the government is fulfilling the responsibility of protecting the worship places of minorities in the country. “The white colour in Pakistani flag is symbolic of protection of minorities’ rights and nurture harmony among people of all the religions living here,” the Minister added. Bhatti said the festival of Eid-i-Ridvan gave the message of love to the Bahai community but also shows the victory of truth against the oppression. 
“The government is giving the message of equality and religious harmony by celebrating all the religious festivals of the minorities at the national level,” he added. “Our government is striving to make Pakistan a moderate and true democratic as was envisaged by Founder of Pakistan Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah,” he said. Bhatti said the government also committed to end discrimination among citizens and wants to take all segment of society on board for national progress and prosperity. “Minorities in the country, enjoy status equal to Muslim majority and under the articles 20, 21, 25, 26, 27, 28, and 36 of the Constitution, the minorities have been given full protection and equal rights to all citizens including minorities without any discrimination of colour, creed, culture, language or gender,” he said.