As Christmas draws near, Christians in Pakistan have marked the season with public celebrations in courts and city streets, highlighting messages of peace, inclusion and constitutional equality.
Events were held in Islamabad and Lahore, where senior judges joined Christian staff, lawyers and church leaders in Christmas observances. In Punjab province, the government also organised its first official Christmas rally, described as a sign of support for religious harmony.
At the Islamabad High Court, judges and court staff marked Christmas with a ceremony at the court building on 17 December. Chief Justice Sardar Mohammad Sarfraz Dogar joined Christian employees and church representatives in a cake-cutting event.
Addressing those present, Justice Dogar sent Christmas greetings to Christians across the country. He described Christmas as a reminder of love, compassion and peace, and said Pakistan’s strength lay in its religious and cultural diversity. He stressed that promoting tolerance was a shared responsibility for society as a whole.
The chief justice said the courts had a duty to protect the basic rights of all citizens. He pointed to constitutional guarantees of equality before the law, freedom of religion, and protection of life and dignity, calling them firm legal obligations.
He also recognised the contribution of religious minorities to Pakistan’s public life, including the legal profession. Justice Dogar referred to former chief justice Alvin Robert Cornelius, a Christian, as an example of integrity and service whose legacy belonged to the entire nation.
Separately, the Islamabad High Court Bar Association held its own Christmas gathering. Members welcomed the Vatican’s ambassador, Archbishop Germano Penemote, who met senior lawyers and toured the bar’s new building. The visit was seen as a sign of goodwill between legal institutions and the Christian community.
Similar celebrations took place at the Lahore High Court on 14 December. Chief Justice Aalia Neelum joined Christian lawyers, court staff and Bishop Nadeem Kamran of the Church of Pakistan in a Christmas ceremony.
Justice Neelum said the constitution guaranteed equal rights to all citizens, regardless of faith. She added that celebrating Christmas within the court reflected the judiciary’s role in encouraging harmony, respect and unity.
Church leaders thanked the court for recognising Christian festivals and offered prayers for peace and stability in the country.
Beyond the courts, a large public celebration took place in Lahore, where hundreds of Christians joined the first government-sponsored Christmas rally in Punjab. The procession, led by Catholic and Protestant clergy along with Punjab’s Minister for Minority Affairs, Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora, travelled several kilometres through the city with carols and festive decorations.
The provincial government said the rally was meant to show its commitment to religious freedom and interfaith harmony. Minister Arora announced increased funding for minority affairs and outlined a series of Christmas-related activities across the province.
Senior minister Marriyum Aurangzeb highlighted welfare programmes aimed at minority communities, including financial assistance, healthcare support and educational opportunities for low-income families.
Christian leaders welcomed the rally but also noted ongoing concerns. Former minority affairs minister Ejaz Alam Augustine said that while the event sent a positive signal, many Christians continued to worry about discrimination and false accusations, especially among young people. He called on the government to ensure equal protection and opportunities for all minorities.
For many Christians, the Christmas season remains a time of mixed emotions. Yet the recent events, centred on public recognition and constitutional promises, offered a measure of encouragement and renewed hope rooted in the message of Christmas, peace, dignity and goodwill for all.
Adapted from CDI.
