LAHORE, Jan 17: President Gen Pervez Musharraf assured the Christian community on Friday that a decision on the issue of returning the Christian schools would be soon taken.

“I am with you regarding the issue of the return of the nationalized Christian schools. I am sure the governor and the chief minister have listened to this, “ he added.

He was talking to reporters after speaking at the concluding ceremony of 125th anniversary of the Lahore Diocese at The Mall Cathedral.

The president said this was heartening that all culprits of the attacks on churches and other Christian institutions had either been arrested or eliminated. He had been told here that the culprits of the attack on a Daska church had also been arrested. “We are grateful to law-enforcement agencies for efficiently dealing with terrorists,” he said.

He said the law-enforcers had been upgraded and better trained, hoping that they would continue to perform their duty more efficiently. The government would take all steps to protect Christians and their institutions, he said.

The president said it was reassuring that all people in Pakistan were united in condemning the despicable acts of terrorism against Christians. He also appreciated what he said the patience of the Christian community “during the hours of national grief.”

Gen Musharraf said Pakistan was at the forefront of global war against terrorism but had itself been a victim of it. “We condemn terrorism and would not be deterred by such cowardly acts. We would pursue the terrorists and eliminate the menace of terrorism,” he said.

Earlier, speaking at the ceremony the president condemned the attacks on the Christian churches and institutions, saying this would not be allowed. Those indulging in such acts of terrorism were not friends of Pakistan. They wanted communal strife in the country and its destabilization, he said.

INS REGISTRATION: Speaking about the INS registration of Pakistanis in US, he said the government was trying to seek concessions for Pakistanis facing hardships in the US because of the condition of registration, but it was not an easy task. He added that the matter was not so simple and the foreign minister was visiting the US to get it resolved.

The president said the US was registering illegal immigrants of all countries and “we are fully trying to protect Pakistanis there.”

Replying to a question regarding ARD president Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan’s demand for re-elections, he said the senior politician better take rest at home.

The ceremony was attended among others by Begum Sehba Musharraf, Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri, Punjab Governor Khalid Maqbool and his wife, Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, Lahore Corps Commander Lt-Gen Zarrar Azim and senior civil and military officers.

ECONOMY: He said during its three-year tenure his government took major steps to promote national unity. These included revival of the joint electorate system for the minorities and return of the nationalized schools.

He said improvement in the national economy and the devolution related local government system were some of the milestones of his government, hoping that the political government would move in the right direction and carry on these policies. He said for sustainable development special measures were needed to be taken to alleviate poverty.

The president mentioned Lahore’s Christian locality Yauhannabad where he said basic facilities were provided jointly by the government and the community during his government. “We treated all communities in Pakistan equally. He quoted the Quaid- i-Azam and said: “We will treat Christians as equal citizens of the country.”

Earlier, the president paid tributes to the services of the Christian community in every walks of life especially health, education, civil service, judiciary and defence. “They have served the country with missionary zeal and I am witness to their commendable services in the health and education sectors,” he said.

He said the Christians rendered exemplary service to the country during the 1965 and 1971 wars with India and laid their lives while protecting their motherland. “They fought with a missionary zeal better than any other Muslim,” he said.

The president appreciated the Church administration for inviting him to the ceremony, saying he had never attended such function in the past. He paid tributes to the founders of the church and those who ran it afterwards.

Church of Pakistan Lahore Diocesan Council President Dr Alexander John Malik appreciated various steps taken by the Musharraf government. Withdrawal of the Indian forces from Pakistani borders was one of the major gains of his government, he said.

He hoped that the minorities would get reserved seats also in the Senate and that the present political set up would continue uninterrupted.

Dr Malik expressed his concern over the attacks on Christians and their institutions. He thanked the government for providing security on Sundays but said the police were in dire need of training to apprehend the culprits and combat terrorism.

“At the same time it was the responsibility of religious leaders to preach and propagate peace, love, tolerance and harmony instead of hatred, violence and aggression,” he said.

He urged the need for changing the role of the Church to match the modern day realities and said the interfaith dialogue was the urgent need of the time.

Dr Malik presented a memento to the president. A multi-media presentation showing the history of the church was also shown.