Leadership of different religions and sects said on Monday that killing of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) MPA Sardar Soran Singh had deprived Pakistan of a great son of this soil, demanding the government announce ‘Tamgha-e-Imtiaz’ for him.
The religious leaders also vowed to initiate countrywide campaign for elimination of extremism, sectarian violence and corruption from the country.
Paying homage to the services of Soran Singh, Chairman Pakistan Ulema Council Hafiz Tahir Ashrafi highlighted Singh’s endeavors for interfaith harmony and for elimination of terrorism from the country.
“Singh sacrificed his family for the cause of Pakistan. We should make non-Muslims living in Pakistan realize that their rights, lives and properties are as dear to us as all other Pakistanis. If any Muslim leader among the leadership of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf was brazenly killed, would the PTI leadership have kept going on with their foundation day celebrations?”
Addressing reporters, Pakistan Interfaith League Chairman Sajid Ishaq said that Soran Singh always raised voice for the cause of victims irrespective of their faiths. He added that Singh was a brave son of this soil and his struggle for the cause of interfaith harmony will be continued. He said that non-Muslims living in Pakistan do not need to feel scared from anyone as Pakistan belongs to non-Muslims as much as it belongs to Muslims.
Addressing the press conference, Qazi Abdul Qadeer Khamosh said that Pakistan came into being with coordinated support of people of all different religions. He said that amidst prevailing challenges of the country everyone should come forward with ideology of ‘being a Pakistani’. Pakistan cannot lead in the comity of nations with discriminations, said Qadeer.
President Pakistan Ulema Council Islamabad Maulana Abdul Hameed Sabri said that services of Singh will be remembered forever, adding that Pakistanis are protectors for their non-Muslim Pakistani brothers.
Bishop Mazhar Ishaq said that it is a ray of hope for non-Muslims living in Pakistan that people from different schools of thought and religions got united here under one roof against Singh`s killing.
