KARACHI, April 3: The All Pakistan Minorities Alliance has announced to observe six-day mourning on the death of Pope John Paul II. APMA leaders and former Sindh Assembly members Michael Javed and Saleem Khursheed Khokhar announced that special condolence prayers for the Pope would be held at the Aiwan-i-Khidmat in Essa Nagri on Sunday.
In a statement issued here on Sunday, they paid tributes to Pope John Paul II and said that the services of the Pope for the betterment of mankind were unmatchable. He always worked hard to spread his message of love and peace, they said.
The leaders urged Christians to participate in special prayers till the new Pope took office in the Vatican City.
CONDOLENCES: Leaders of various political parties have condoled the demise of Pope John Paul-II and paid tributes to his services to the Christian community and the world.
Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Mr Altaf Hussain expressed his heartfelt condolences to the Pope’s family and colleagues, as well as the Christian community, particularly the Catholics, on his sad demise.
He commended the Pope’s services to humanity and said that his fearless campaign for the oppressed people, irrespective of their caste, creed, colour, gender and religion, would long be remembered.
“A personality like Pope John Paul is born in centuries,” he said, and appealed to people to observe a vigil in recognition of the Pope’s services.
Prof Ghafoor Ahmad, a central leader of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal and Naib Amir of Jamaat-i-Islami, expressed his deep sorrow over the demise of Pope John Paul-II.
In his condolence message, he said that whenever there was suppression of oppressed people anywhere in the world, the Pope had raised his voice against it. To uphold justice and condemn aggressor was the hallmark of the Pope, he said.
Prof Ghafoor said that the Ummah equally shared the shock and sorrow of Christian community, especially those living in Pakistan, over the demise of the Pope.
