The speakers at a conference on United Nations International Day of Peace were of the opinion that peace is the utmost need of the humanity in the prevailing circumstances around the world where clash of civilizations is tearing the societies apart. They stressed the need of peace in all spheres of life particularly on political front as well as in social and cultural fields and last but not the least among interfaith circles.
These views were expressed by Jean-François Cautain, Ambassador of the European Union to Pakistan while addressing a conference organised by Universal Interfaith Peace Mission in collaboration with United Religions Initiative Multi CC Islamabad on United Nations International Day of Peace here on Thursday.
Those who attended the conference included, Christine Chung, Officer of Human Rights Commission, Geneva, Chairman, National Commission for Human Rights Justice (r) Ali Nawaz Chohan, Malik Amjad Hussain Alvi, Interfaith Dialogue and Action Islamabad Director Dr Amineh Hoti, Dr. Seema of Bahai’ Faith, Bishop Aftab Anwar, Bishop Emanuel, Pastor Jamshaid, Pastor Iqbal Johan Mughal, Jibran Gill, and co-coordinator Miss Syeda Yasmin, Khurshid Malik, Saeed-ur-Rehman Siddqiue and Suneel Mehboob and others also addressed the conference.
Cautain appreciated efforts of UIPM Chairman Allama Dr GR Chishti for promotion of interfaith harmony by organising such a conference and seminars. “We support him and his organization, Universal Interfaith Peace Mission as today we are celebrating International Day of Peace (IDP) of United Nations,” he added.
Earlier in his welcome address, Dr Chishti said that although we were living in a modern world with many gadgets and facilities around us, but the one thing we often forgot was the danger of living in a world full of strife. The humanity was suffering everywhere; people all around the world were suffering especially the Muslims who were becoming victims of atrocities all around the world.
“In this situation, the United Nations International Day of Peace is a beacon light in a world full of conflicts. Although there are many organisations around the globe working for the peace such as United Religions Initiative and Parliament of the World Religions as well as Common World Movement, but with each passing day the humanity is endangered through conflicts.
Dr Chisti further said that the problems faced by Muslim Ummah were due to misinterpretation of Holy Quran and Sunnah by some opportunists. “We need a unanimous authoritative body of Muslim world that can control the Islamic literature from being misconstrued. “We Muslims don’t have unanimous body or platform to tackle the issues arising out of misinterpretation of Holy Quran and teachings of Holy Prophet (Peace be upon Him) by opportunists. We need to work on it,” he added.