Karachi: Former president and PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari on Saturday paid tribute to the Father of the Nation Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah on his birth anniversary on Dec 25 and also greeted the Christian community on their festive occasion of Christmas.

In his statement, Zardari said that the Quaid-i-Azam made Pakistan safe for non-Muslims and PPP founder and former Prime Minister Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto gave equal rights to all non-Muslim citizens of the country in the 1973 Constitution. He further said that Mohtarma Shaheed Benazir Bhutto following their footprints continued safeguarding the rights of non-Muslims in the country.

Zardari was of the view that all religions emphasize upon the teachings of humanity, patience, and tolerance. He stated that non-Muslim citizens of Pakistan too had rendered invaluable services for the country. He vowed that the PPP while acting upon the philosophy of PPP Quaid Shaheed Zulfikar Bhutto and Shaheed Benazir Bhutto would protect the fundamental and constitutional rights of minorities of this country.