President Mamnoon Hussain has said that August 11 is a day to reaffirm our resolve for the protection of rights of all citizens and according them equal treatment irrespective of religion, caste or creed as upheld by nation's great leaders.
In his message on Minorities Day being observed on August 11, the President said, it is "an important day in our national calendar when we reaffirm our resolve to the ideals of the Quaid-e-Azam to continue striving for the protection of the rights of all faiths and bringing them in the mainstream of national life."
He said "On this day, we reiterate our pledge to honour the commitment made by our great leaders of according equal treatment to all citizens irrespective of their religion, caste and creed."
"The observance of Minorities Day reflects our commitment to integrate people of all faiths in the national life," he said, adding "Let us reiterate today that we will uphold the ideals of equal rights and complete freedom to every citizen to freely profess and practice his or her religion."
The President said that it was on this day in 1947, when the Quaid in his historic address to the Constituent assembly outlined the contours of a modern and tolerant Pakistan in which people of all faiths would have equal rights and opportunities.
He said this vision of a tolerant and modern Pakistan was also enshrined in the Constitution of Pakistan.
"On this day let us also remember and pay homage to those courageous advocates of interfaith harmony and pledge to promote democratic values and culture as an essential tool for promoting tolerance, peace and harmony," he added.