ISLAMABAD, April 14: Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani has said Pakistan believes in complete religious freedom of minorities and would continue to protect and safeguard their rights as enshrined in the constitution.

He was talking to a delegation of Sikh yatrees, who are visiting Pakistan in connection with the Besakhi festival, here on Monday.

The delegation was headed by Sardar Avtar Singh Sanghra, Jathedar, Karsewa Committee, UK. Federal minister for education with additional charge of minorities’ affairs Ahsan Iqbal was also present in the meeting.

The prime minister said: “We consider it our religious obligation to maintain and protect the religious sites/places of the Sikhs and other minorities in Pakistan.”

Lauding the useful contribution of the minorities in various fields, Mr Gilani said we had a relationship of regard with believers of other faiths and would continue to promote inter- faith harmony.