President Asif Ali Zardari has called for unity and harmony to address the challenge of extremism and terrorism.
Speaking at the concluding session of National Conference on Interfaith Harmony titled “Living together with diversity – Interfaith and inter-cultural dialogue” in Islamabad on Friday, the president said he believed in tolerant Islam and had to counter those who believe in hate.
He said he had been pleading with the world community that the way the issue of terrorism was being addressed would not lead us to success. He said there was a need for adopting an approach of peace and reconciliation.
He pointed out that more than three decades of war in Afghanistan had not brought peace to that country and Pakistan was worst affected by the turmoil in Afghanistan.
The president pointed out that there was time when no one in Pakistan could imagine blowing himself up as suicide bomber, as Islam was against suicide.
He said people at that time lived in peace and harmony and there were no sectarian issues, but then global politics changed the situation and religion was used as weapon of war.
In his address of welcome‚ Adviser to Prime Minister on National Harmony Paul Bhatti said since its inception in 2011‚ the Ministry of National Harmony took several important steps to promote harmony and interfaith dialogue.
He said more than 4,000 scholarships had been given to students hailing from poor families and seats of minorities had been increased in National and provincial assemblies.
Bhatti said no religion taught violence or extremism and we should live together peacefully as citizen of Pakistan as envisioned by Quaid-e-Azam.
Retired chief justice Rana Bhagwandas said we could address the challenge of extremism and terrorism through unity and tolerance. He said the country was passing through a critical phase and there was need to take practical steps to promote inter-faith harmony.
Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee Chairman Mufti Muneebur Rehman read out declaration of the conference that called among other things establishment of a National Council for Interfaith Harmony consisting of representatives from various faiths.
The conference also recommended formation of local level committees to promote national harmony.
It proposed discarding the use of the word ‘minorities’ replacing it with some appropriate word like Non-Muslim Pakistanis.
The conference recommended encouragement of inter-faith dialogue and steps by the international community to address root causes of terrorism.
It condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. It emphasised that terrorism should not be attributed to a particular group or nation.
A copy of the declaration was also presented to the president who said he accepted the recommendations.
