President Asif Ali Zardari has said that Shab-e-Barat is one of the most blessed nights of the Islamic calendar that offers believers a precious opportunity for repentance, self-accountability and turning sincerely towards Allah.
In a message to the nation on the occasion of Shab-e-Barat, the president said the sacred night, observed on the 15th of Sha’ban, is regarded as a night of mercy, forgiveness and divine decisions. Citing religious scholars, he noted that it is a night in which Allah Almighty grants forgiveness, mercy and salvation to His servants.
The president said Shab-e-Barat reminds believers of Allah’s boundless mercy, compassion and kindness, and calls upon them to critically review their deeds, seek forgiveness with sincerity and reform their individual and collective lives in accordance with the principles of righteousness and piety.
He said Islam teaches patience, forgiveness, compassion and mutual empathy, and Shab-e-Barat provides a practical opportunity to adopt these noble values. The night, he added, inspires believers to feel remorse over past shortcomings and commit themselves to choosing a better and more righteous path for the future.
The president urged citizens to fully benefit from the blessings of Shab-e-Barat by respecting the rights of others, promoting peace, tolerance and harmony in society, and playing a positive and constructive role in the country’s development, stability and prosperity.
President Zardari said Shab-e-Barat conveys a message of hope, reform and unity. He said the occasion offers an opportunity to renew the resolve to rise above personal interests and prioritize national interest and collective welfare.
The president prayed that Allah Almighty may bless Pakistan with peace and security, economic stability and national unity, grant the people the ability to ease difficulties for one another, and accept their efforts for the welfare of the country and the nation.
He concluded by praying that Allah enables all to truly understand the message of Shab-e-Barat, act upon it, and bring positive and lasting change in their lives.
Meanwhile, President Asif Ali Zardari, on behalf of the Government and the people of Pakistan, and personally, extended his warm felicitations to Anura Kumara Dissanayake, President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, the Government and the friendly people of Sri Lanka on the occasion of the country’s 78th Independence Day.
“This important day reflects the unity and national pride of the Sri Lankan people, as well as the strength and continuity of their national journey, shaped by a rich cultural heritage and resilience. Pakistan and Sri Lanka have a time-tested friendship as we have stood together through thick and thin. Pakistan’s armed forces played an important role assigned by the people of Sri Lanka to crush terrorism on their homeland, quoted the president as saying.
The president also appreciated the role played by Sri Lanka in South Asian cooperation as Sri Lanka hosted the 6th (1991), the 10th (1998) and the 15th (2008) SAARC summits in Colombo. It is sad that India has stalled the SAARC summits for almost 12 years by violating its spirit just because the next summit was supposed to be hosted by Pakistan.
“On this day, I hope that Sri Lanka and Pakistan will continue to cooperate for South Asian security and the revival of SAARC. Pakistan and Sri Lanka enjoy longstanding and brotherly relations, founded on mutual trust, goodwill, and shared values. Over the years, our two countries have stood together in times of challenge as well as in moments of achievement,” he added.The president said that he was confident that the bonds of friendship and cooperation between Pakistan and Sri Lanka would continue to grow stronger as they worked together to further deepen our bilateral relations in the years ahead.