Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir joined the Christian community at Christ Church, Rawalpindi in their Christmas celebrations.

The congregation welcomed the army chief and thanked him for sharing the festivity. The COAS wished Merry Christmas to the entire Christian community in Pakistan. He also expressed reverence for the community and stressed upon the need for promoting greater interfaith harmony in society in order to follow the Quaid's true vision of a united and progressive Pakistan.

Gen Asim Muir noted that “Islam teaches us the lesson of peace, friendship and encourages interfaith harmony, which is the need of the hour”.

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He also stressed the importance of having the correct perspective, truth, and knowledge-based opinions about national issues rather than following rhetoric and propaganda to address complex challenges and issues.

“The enemies of Pakistan are hell-bent on creating fissures using religious, ethnic and political vulnerabilities. We have to stand together and united to rise as a resolute and strong nation,” the army chief remarked.

While paying tribute to Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s great vision and leadership on his 147th birthday, Gen Munir quoted Quaid’s historical remarks made in his speech on August 11, 1947, while addressing the Constituent Assembly, as “You are free. You are free to go to your temples. You are free to go to your mosques or to any other places of worship in this State of Pakistan.”

At the end, the COAS befittingly acknowledged the contributions and sacrifices made by the entire Christian community of Pakistan in all fields and domains.