As Christmas approaches, scenes of celebration unfolded in Pakistan’s courts and streets alike, offering moments of warmth and reflection for the minority Christians amid continuing challenges.
From solemn cake-cutting ceremonies in the high courts in Islamabad and Lahore to a first-of-its-kind, government-sponsored Christmas rally in Punjab Province, the season brought renewed emphasis on interfaith harmony, constitutional equality and the enduring message of peace associated with Christmas.
At the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday, Dec. 17, the bar and the bench marked Christmas separately but with a shared spirit of inclusivity.
In a ceremony held at the IHC building, Chief Justice Sardar Mohammad Sarfraz Dogar joined church leaders, fellow judges and Christian staff members in a cake-cutting event that underscored the judiciary’s commitment to minority rights.
Addressing the gathering, Justice Dogar extended warm Christmas greetings to Christians across Pakistan, describing the occasion as a symbol of love, compassion and peace. He noted that Pakistan’s social fabric was woven from diverse faiths and cultures, and that promoting tolerance and understanding was a collective national responsibility rather than the task of any single institution.
Emphasizing the judiciary’s role, the chief justice said courts had consistently protected and enforced the fundamental rights of citizens. He stressed that the constitution unequivocally guaranteed equality before the law, freedom of religion and the protection of life and dignity for all, calling these guarantees binding constitutional obligations rather than symbolic ideals.
“A just society can only flourish when every individual feels protected, respected and valued,” Justice Dogar said.
He also acknowledged the contributions of minorities to the justice system and public life, citing their roles in the judiciary, the legal profession, education and public service.
“Former chief justice of Pakistan and a Christian, Alvin Robert Cornelius was a towering symbol of integrity, courage and constitutionalism whose legacy belongs to the entire nation,” the top judge said, as he reaffirmed his own commitment to equality in both principle and practice.
Separately, the Islamabad High Court Bar Association organized its own Christmas event welcoming Vatican’s ambassador, Archbishop Germano Penemote, to its premises.
The ambassador’s visit, arranged at the request of Bar Secretary Manzoor Jaja, was marked by greetings exchanged with Bar Association President Wajid Gilani and other office-bearers. The bar presented a commemorative shield to the envoy, who thanked members for their goodwill, while also touring the new High Court Bar building—an exchange reflecting cordial engagement between legal institutions and the Christian community.
Lahore high court marks Christmas, reaffirm constitutional protections
Similar sentiments resonated in Lahore on Sunday (Dec. 14), where the Lahore High Court (LHC) held a Christmas cake-cutting ceremony reaffirming its commitment to interfaith harmony and religious freedom.
Lahore High Court Chief Justice Aalia Neelum, joined by Church of Pakistan’s Bishop of Lahore Diocese Rt Reverend Nadeem Kamran, minority staff members and lawyers, highlighted the court’s longstanding tradition of respecting and celebrating the religious festivals of all faiths.
Justice Neelum emphasized that the constitution guaranteed equal rights to all citizens irrespective of religion, and that the judiciary remained duty-bound to uphold interfaith harmony, equality and freedom of belief.
“Celebrating Christmas within the court reflects the judiciary’s role in promoting tolerance, solidarity and unity in line with Pakistan’s founding principles,” she said.
Prominent members of the Christian Lawyers Association of Pakistan attended the ceremony, while Bishop Kamran thanked the chief justice, offered prayers for the country’s peace and prosperity, and presented her with a bouquet—gestures that reinforced mutual respect between institutions and faith communities.
Punjab government sponsors first Christmas interfaith rally
Beyond courtrooms, Christmas was also marked on a larger public scale in Lahore, the capital of Punjab Province on Sunday, Dec. 14, where hundreds of Christians took part in the province’s first government-sponsored Christmas rally.
Led by Catholic and Protestant clergy alongside Punjab Minister for Minority Affairs Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora, the 7-kilometer procession moved from Lahore’s Sacred Heart Cathedral to a downtown roundabout, accompanied by carols, chants and festively decorated buses and trucks.
Officially titled the Christmas Interfaith Harmony Rally, the event was presented by the provincial government as a message to the world about religious freedom in Pakistan.
Speaking at the rally, Arora cited a 300 percent increase in the Punjab government’s 2025 budget allocation for minority affairs and outlined a week-long Christmas campaign that included sports events, cycling activities and celebrations at churches and educational institutions.
Senior minister Marriyum Aurangzeb announced that the number of minority cards issued in Punjab had increased significantly, enabling more low-income Christian families to access scholarships, health assistance and emergency relief. She also highlighted a welfare scheme providing quarterly financial support to eligible minority families.
Welcoming the government’s involvement, former Punjab human rights and minorities affairs minister and current lawmaker Ejaz Alam Augustine said that the rally had sent a positive message to the marginalized Christians.
“However, fears remain in the Christian community, particularly among youth vulnerable to false blasphemy accusations and social discrimination. The government should make efforts to ensure that Christians and other minority groups feel protected and get equal opportunities to progress and become part of the national mainstream,” he said.
In a country where Christians often enter Christmas amid anxiety, the season’s events, rooted in constitutional promises, public acknowledgment and shared celebration, reflected both the enduring challenges and the quiet hope for the continued inspiration found in the message of Christmas: peace on earth, goodwill toward all.
