Vision for tolerance December 25, 2020 December 25th has a special significance for Christians around the world as the day Prophet Jesus Christ was born. For Pakistan, the day is duly significant, marking also the birth anniversary of the founder of the nation Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. These two crucial events are intertwined in so many ways, reminding us first of all of the desperate need for tolerance and acceptance for all beliefs in a nation that has seen bitter acrimony and divide over the years, especially over sect and belief. While we may have forgotten the fact that Pakistan was created as a country to protect a religious minority: India’s Muslims, the fact is that Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah never forgot. In his speech to the first constituent assembly on August 11, 1947, Jinnah reminded those formulating the constitution of the new country that Pakistan would be a country where Muslims, Hindus, Christians and all other religious groups would be free to go to the worship places of their choice. This was the dream of Pakistan. This is a dream that has unfortunately suffered many an attack. But this is the dream that we must remember and revive as we celebrate Christmas and the birth of our founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah.