As Christmas approaches, festive scenes unfold in Pakistan’s courts and streets, providing moments of warmth and reflection for the Christian minority amid ongoing hardship.
From solemn cake-cutting ceremonies at the High Courts in Islamabad and Lahore to the first government-sponsored Christmas gathering in Punjab, this season has reaffirmed the message of interfaith harmony, constitutional equality, and the enduring peace associated with Christmas.
On Wednesday, December 17, at the Islamabad High Court (IHC), the bar and bench celebrated Christmas separately but in a shared spirit of inclusivity.
At a ceremony held at the IHC building, Chief Justice Sardar Mohammad Sarfraz Dogar, along with church leaders, fellow judges and Christian staff, performed a cake-cutting event to highlight the judiciary’s commitment to minority rights.
Justice Dogar addressed the gathering and sent warm Christmas greetings to Christians across Pakistan, saying the occasion was a symbol of love, compassion and peace. He pointed out that Pakistan’s social fabric is made up of diverse faiths and cultures and that promoting tolerance and understanding is the responsibility of the nation as a whole and not the task of any single institution.
The Chief Justice emphasized the role of the judiciary, saying that courts have consistently protected and enforced the fundamental rights of the people. He stressed that the Constitution provides clear guarantees of equality before the law, freedom of religion, and protection of the life and dignity of all people, arguing that these guarantees are binding constitutional obligations rather than symbolic ideals.
“A just society can only thrive when every individual feels protected, respected and valued,” Justice Dogar said.
He also acknowledged the contributions of minorities to the justice system and national life, citing their role in the judiciary, legal profession, education and public service.
“Alvin Robert Cornelius, the former chief justice of Pakistan and a Christian man, was a towering symbol of integrity, courage and constitutionalism, and his legacy belongs to all our people,” the Chief Justice said, reaffirming his commitment to equality in both principle and practice.
Separately, the Islamabad High Court Bar Association organized its own Christmas event with Vatican Ambassador Archbishop Germano Penemote at its premises.
The ambassador’s visit, arranged at the request of Solicitor General Manzoor Jhaja, was marked by an exchange of greetings with Bar Association President Wajid Gilani and other officials. The Bar Association presented the envoy with a commemorative plaque, and the envoy thanked members for their goodwill and toured the new High Court Bar building. This was an exchange that reflected the intense engagement between legal institutions and the Christian community.
Lahore High Court celebrates Christmas and reaffirms constitutional protections
Similar sentiments were echoed in Lahore on Sunday (December 14), with the Lahore High Court (LHC) holding a Christmas cake cutting ceremony and reaffirming its commitment to interfaith harmony and religious freedom.
Lahore High Court Chief Justice Arya Neelam, along with Church of Pakistan Lahore Bishop Bishop Nadeem Kamran, minority staff and lawyers, highlighted the court’s long-standing tradition of respecting and celebrating religious festivals of all faiths.
Justice Neelam emphasized that the Constitution guarantees equal rights to all citizens, regardless of religion, and that the judiciary remains obligated to protect interreligious harmony, equality, and freedom of religion.
“Celebrating Christmas inside the courts reflects the judiciary’s role in promoting tolerance, solidarity and unity in line with Pakistan’s founding principles,” she said.
Prominent members of the Pakistan Christian Bar Association attended the ceremony, and Bishop Kamran expressed his gratitude to the Chief Justice, prayed for peace and prosperity for the country, and presented him with a bouquet of flowers. This was a gesture that strengthened mutual respect between institutions and faith communities.
Punjab government sponsors first Christmas interfaith gathering
On Sunday, December 14, a large Christmas was celebrated outside the courtroom in Lahore, the capital of Punjab province, with hundreds of Christians attending the province’s first government-sponsored Christmas gathering.
The seven-kilometre procession, led by Catholic and Protestant clerics and Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora, Punjab’s Minister of Minority Affairs, traveled from Lahore’s Sacred Heart Cathedral to a downtown roundabout, accompanied by carols, chants and festively decorated buses and trucks.
The event, officially titled ‘Christmas Interfaith Harmony Rally’, was announced by the provincial government as a message to the world about religious freedom in Pakistan.
Speaking at the gathering, Arora cited the 300 per cent increase in the Punjab government’s 2025 budget allocation for minority issues and outlined a week-long Christmas campaign that included sporting events, cycling activities and celebrations at churches and educational institutions.
Senior Minister Maryam Aurangzeb announced that the number of minority cards issued in Punjab has increased significantly, allowing more low-income Christian families to receive scholarships, medical assistance and emergency assistance. She also highlighted the welfare system, which provides quarterly financial support to eligible minority families.
Ejaz Alam Augustine, former Punjab Minister of Human Rights and Minority Affairs and current lawmaker, welcomed the government’s involvement and said the rally sent a positive message to marginalized Christians.
“However, insecurities remain among Christian communities, especially young people who are vulnerable to false charges of blasphemy and social discrimination. Governments should work to ensure that Christians and other minority groups feel protected and have equal opportunities to progress and become part of the national mainstream,” he said.
In a country where Christians often approach Christmas with uncertainty, the seasonal observance, rooted in constitutional commitment, national recognition, and shared celebration, reflected both enduring challenges and a quiet hope for the continued inspiration found in Christmas’s message of peace on earth and goodwill for all.
