ISLAMABAD, Dec 24: President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz have reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to protect legitimate rights and interests of minorities.

In separate messages on the eve of Christmas and the birth anniversary of the founder of Pakistan Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, they said the Quaid-i-Azam, even before the creation of Pakistan, had unequivocally declared a policy of equality, freedom and security for all communities irrespective of their religion, profession or ethnic origins.

President Musharraf said that no doubt Quaid-i-Azam was one of the greatest leaders in world history and the creation of Pakistan was a living testimony to his foresight and political genius.

Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, quoting Quaid-i-Azam, said one the most unforgettable of his sayings was: “The Almighty has blessed this country with rich resources, both human and material, and that is now up to its citizens to build a meaningful structure on this solid foundation.” He said these were simple but purposeful words. “We must pay heed to them if we want to emulate the Quaid’s life and character.

He said Islam enjoins upon Muslims to regard the life, property and culture and honour of all religious communities as sacred as their own.

He said the Pakistani people believed in enlightened moderation, which was not only the core and crux of Islamic teachings, but also the essence of every religion of the world. He said it provided a strong basis for inter-faith and inter-cultural harmony in today’s world.