Federal Minister for Relig ious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Aniq Ahmed stressed the crucial need for dialogue among religions and cultures at global level to establish lasting peace.
Addressing the Interfaith Harmony Conference held at the Badshahi Masjid Lahore on Saturday, he highlighted the government’s commitment to promoting interfaith harmony in Pakistan, emphasizing the prevailing unity among different religious denominations.
Aniq Ahmed underscored the importance of tolerance and respect, integral to Islamic teachings, and assured that minorities in Pakistan enjoy complete religious freedom. He called for collective efforts to foster interfaith harmony, citing Islam’s principles and Prophet Hazrat Muhammad’s (PBUH) legacy of dialogue with Christians and Jews.
The minister detailed concrete measures taken by the government to promote interfaith harmony, with a focus on understanding differences and finding commonalities among religions. He urged both the Muslim majority and minorities in Pakistan to contribute positively to the na-tion’s progress and dispel false rumors.
Highlighting Pakistan’s diverse society, Aniq Ahmed an-nounced his visit to Karachi during the Hindu festival of Diwali and issued directives for guidelines to resolve issues facing minorities. Bishop of Lahore Nadim Kamran and Pastor Asher Nazir praised the government’s initiatives for minorities, expressing commitment to contributing positively to the country’s peace.
The conference, attended by prominent figures including Prime Minister’s Special Representative Hafiz Muham-mad TahirMahmoodAshrafi and Provincial Minister for Religious Affairs Syed Azfar Ali Nasir, aimed to streng-then religious harmony, mutual brotherhood, and colla-borative roles for the progress of the nation. Participants praised the government’s efforts and expressed dedication to fostering a harmonious society. Moreover, Pakistan Ulema Council Chairman Hafiz Mu-hammad Tahir Mahmood Ashrafi has said those who be-trayed their motherland and harmed it should be hanged at Minar-i-Pakistan. Addressing an interfaith harmony conference and talking to media on Saturday, he said traitors like Adil Raja and Captain Mehdi had lesser sen-tences of 14 and 12 years respectively. It has been many months since May 9 but they are not even allowing military courts or punishing the accused, he regretted. He added, courts of Pakistan have sentenced traitors like Adil Raja and Captain Mehdi to 14 and 12 years respectively. We think that these are less punish-ments for those who betrayed their homeland, soil and religion. They should be hanged at Minar-i-Pakistan. The country that gave them everything, the country that gave them recognition; the traitors should not stay on earth again.
Since they were retired soldiers, the army has done it, but my question is to the judiciary and the administration. We all sitting here have seen the devastation in Jinnah House during the events of May 9. It has been many months since then but the perpetrators have not been punished.
