November 4, 2002	Monday	Sha’aban 28,1423

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ISLAMABAD, Nov 3: The federal minister for minorities, Col S.K.Tressler (retired) has felicitated the Hindu community on the occasion of Diwali.

In his message on the occasion of the Hindu festival, Mr Tressler said: “I felicitate on my own behalf and on behalf of the Government of Pakistan all our Hindu brethren on the auspicious occasion of Diwali. I wish happy Diwali to all of my brothers, sisters and elders of the Hindu community.

“The minorities are a sacred trust for us. The founder of the Nation, Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, had, right from the day of creation of Pakistan, unequivocally declared a policy of equality, freedom and security for all communities living in Pakistan irrespective of their religion, profession or ethnic origin.”

He said the Constitution laid down the provision for the minorities to freely profess and practice their religion.

“The government of Pakistan has made institutional arrangements and taken a lot of other measures for the uplift and welfare of the minorities,” he said.

The government is also making all out efforts to safeguard fundamental rights, safety, honour, life and properties of the minorities as enshrined in the Constitution, he added.