In predominately Muslim Pakistan, President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz yesterday sent Christmas greetings to the country's Christian community. The Pak Tribune (which felt the need to inform its readers when Christmas was) reported that both leaders assured Pakistanis that the rights of minority religions would continue to be fully protected. Pakistan's Constitution assures minorities the right to freely profess, practice and propagate their religion.
In largely Hindu Nepal, IANS today reports that the Christian community is celebrating Christmas in a new atmosphere of tolerance. Earlier this year, a pro-democracy movement removed the king and installed a multi-party government that promised to make Nepal a secular state instead of one whose official religion is Hinduism. Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala added Christmas to the list of official programs and extended greetings to the Christian community.
