Christmas celebrated across Pakistan amid tight security

Special prayer services were held at churches across Pakistan on Thursday as Christians celebrated Christmas under strict security arrangements.

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Special programmes and services have been organized in churches across the country to celebrate the festival. All the churches have been decorated with colourful lights and illuminated Christmas trees. Authorities said comprehensive measures were put in place to ensure peaceful celebrations across major cities.

Also during the day, Pakistanis celebrated the 149th birth anniversary of the 'Father of the Nation' Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah with renewed pledge to uphold his guiding principles of Faith, Unity and Discipline.

The day dawned with 31-gun salutes in the federal capital and a 21-gun salute at provincial capitals, while special prayers were offered at the mosques after Fajr prayer for the departed soul of the 'Father of Nation' and peace, prosperity and development of the country.

President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and the government of Pakistan also shared Christmas messages on social media platform X, extending greetings to the Christian community.

In their separate messages, they said Christmas is a time of hope, peace and compassion that reminds us of the deep bonds uniting all people.