With December 25 approaching fast, the Christian community in Landi Kotal has started finalising their preparations to celebrate their religious festivity, Christmas, with zeal and fervour.
A large number of Christian families can be witnessed in Landi Kotal bazaar from dawn to dust, buying clothes, shoes and other commodities related to Christmas.
Ashan Masih, a tailor by profession, said that he was going to renovate his house for Christmas Eve, and had almost completed shopping for the day. He further said that children were rehearsing for tableaus and other religious songs, which they would present on day. “We are eagerly waiting to commemorate the Christmas Day with religious zeal and enthusiasm,” said Ashan Masih.
Jahanzeb, a local Christian student of first year who was buying shoe at one of the shoe shops, said he was eagerly waiting for Christmas and had bought new clothes for the special day.
He said his Muslim friends always greet him on the day, and added that he would be visiting Islamabad along with his friends to celebrate Christmas. “The local tribesmen also felicitate us on our religious days and share our joys by joining our parties without any hesitation,” he observed.
Sharing details, central member of Pakistan Minority Alliance Arshad Maseeh said that approximately 300 Christian families had been residing in Khyber district from pre-partition era, and were executing their duties as government employees or in private enterprises. He expressed satisfaction over the general attitude of the tribesmen towards them and said that Christians in Khyber did not consider themselves parted of the tribal society. He urged the authorities concerned to release advance salaries of Christian government employees in the tribal areas, just like other parts of the country, so that they could celebrate Christmas in a better manner.