Christian prisoners in the Pakistani province of Punjab receive a special Christmas gift

Lahore: December 29, 2009, (PCTV Newsdesk)

Christian prisoners in the Pakistani province of Punjab have received a surprise Christmas gift - two months less in jail.

They learned about this from Mr. Mian Shahbaz Sharif, Chief Minister of Punjab, who during a Christmas cake cutting ceremony at the Chief Minister's Secretariat in Lahore, announced a two months "remission" from their sentences to only Christian prisoners at Christmastime.

These prisoners are facing charges of civil and criminal cases including theft, quarrels, rape, fraud and, for some, the discriminatory Sections of Pakistan Penal Code, especially the Sections of 295 B & C of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) which many Christians believe have been abused against the Christians and already many of them have been put to death or had to flee for their lives.

Section 295 B of PPC says, "Whoever willfully defiles, damages or desecrates a copy of the Holy Qur'an [Muslim Holy Book] or of an extract therefrom or uses it in any derogatory manner or for any unlawful purpose shall be punishable with imprisonment for life." While Section 295 C of PPC is like this, "Whoever by words, either spoken or written, or by visible representation or by any imputation, innuendo, or insinuation, directly or indirectly, defiles the sacred name of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) shall be punished with death, or imprisonment for life, and shall also be liable to fine."

The Chief Minister further announced that he was to grant 5,000 admissions on reserved seats to the Christian students in the vocational institutions, to strictly implement 5% minorities' quota in the government services and to double the amount from 5 million to 10 million to the Christian families.

He further said, "We are ashamed about the tragic incident of Gojra." He was referring to tragic incident that took place on August 1, 2009, in which seven Christians were burnt alive and 68 houses and two churches set fire to by Muslim extremists.

The Chief Minister further said, "All citizens in Pakistan are equal. No one should consider oneself as a second class citizen; we should all work jointly for the prosperity of Pakistan."

Mr. Kamran Michael, Provincial Minister of Human Rights and Minorities Affairs for Punjab told ANS, "The Punjab government is trying its utmost to create the atmosphere of peace and harmony among the people of different faiths. This year of 2009 has been the worst for the Pakistani Christians as they have gone through so much persecution and suffering, but we should remain faithful to our Christian faith. Our government has for first time established the Christmas Bazaars in the history of Pakistan for the welfare of Christians. They are being provided sugar on the rate of rupee 40 which is rupee 60 in the market. There is subsidy on other eatable items on the Christmas Bazaars as well.

"This will probably have a good impact on the economy of Christians on this event of Christmas."

Mr. Khalil Tahir Sindhu Advocate, Parliamentary Secretary of Human Rights and Minorities Affairs, stated to ANS, "We, the Christians, are somehow satisfied that the government has understood the sufferings of the minorities. We are trying our utmost so that the culture of peace and tolerance can be promoted in Pakistan. Though it is very difficult but we are hopeful that there will be a positive change in our society.

He stated that recent acquittal of Gulsher Masih along with his daughter under the section 295-B of the Pakistan Penal Code and recently the bail granted to Naveed Masih from the Lahore High Court is "a symbol of change."

News source: www.assistnews.net