Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf on Wednesday while stressing the dire need of inter-faith harmony in the country urged leaders of all faiths and religions to stand united and strive for peace and security.
He was addressing a conference organised by the Ministry of National Harmony aimed at creating greater understanding amongst people of different faiths.
The Prime Minister referred to the recent incidents of terrorism in which a large number of people were killed and said “lets come out of this perpetual sense of fear that haunts us all, and where no place is safe anymore.”
He referred to the Hazaras as brothers and patriotic Pakistanis and said that the entire nation is deeply saddened due to the plight of Hazaras in Quetta. The PM stated; “there can be no justification for the murder of the innocent. Who can justify the killings of a child, women or a man who are trying to earn a living?”.
PM Ashraf that said no one should take law into their hands as it renders societies lawless and chaotic. He agreed that maintaining law and order is the responsibility and an obligation of the government.
The PM said that Pakistan cannot live in isolation and has to live in peace and tranquility with its neighbors and violent incidents inside the country spoil the image of the polity internationally. .
The Prime Minister quoted poet Allama Mohammad Iqbal who in his verses pointed that no matter what faith a human adheres to, they all wish to live in peace with others.
The prime minister said that”let everyone follow whatever he wishes and if there is a conflict, then they should follow the path of dialogue”.
The Prime Minister urged all religious leaders of all faiths to stand united and preach the message of love and peace across the country because they influence the masses and people listen to them.
The PM said that interfaith conference was a much-needed event to deliberate on an issue that has mutated into a challenge for the country.
Minister for National Harmony Paul Jacob Bhatti and Minister of State Akram Masih Gill on the occasion stressed upon the leaders of all faiths to strive hard to create a Pakistan, as envisioned
by Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah.