August 26, 2008	Tuesday	Sha'aban 23, 1429

PESHAWAR, Aug 25: Chief Minister Ameer Haider Khan Hoti has ruled out dialogue with foreign elements, saying that local people should not become puppets in the hands of outsiders.

He was addressing the opening session of an inter-faith harmony conference here on Monday. The conference was organised by the Pakistan Council of World’s Religions in collaboration with the provincial department of religious affairs.

“No religion in the world allows shedding blood of innocent people and efforts for bringing peace through religion is a need of the hour,” Mr Hoti said. He added that without peace there could be no socio-economic development and prosperity. The people who raised their voice for peace, tranquility and mutual love in face of terrorism and violence at this critical stage deserved rich tributes, he said.

PCWR chief coordinator Qari Roohullah Madani, Bishop Munawwar Mal Shah, Allama Fakhrul Hassan Qararvi, Charnjeet Singh, Haroon Sarb Dayal, renowned religious scholars and vice chancellors of various seminaries, besides provincial ministers, public representatives and journalists attended the conference.

In his address, the chief minister said that Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah envisioned a Pakistan where all the religious minorities enjoyed equal rights. He said Bacha Khan had realised the fact a century ago that a real freedom from British imperialists was not possible without joint efforts of followers of all the religions of the sub-continent. Besides the Muslims, Christians, Hindus and Sikhs played a great role in establishing Pakistan, he added.

The chief minister said that his right over the province was not more than the right of others, saying they could not separate Christians, Hindus and Sikhs from themselves. He said that violence could be overcome with non-violence as solution of every issue faced by the province was hidden in talks and jirgas.

Referring to the agreement in Swat, he said that the agreement was breached repeatedly and the peace processes were sabotaged by some internal and external forces. “The situation forced the government to take harsh decisions for ensuring protection to the life and property of the people,” the chief minister argued.

He appealed to the participants of the conference to help the government in its efforts for peace in the province. About sectarian clashes, he said that their enemies wanted them to fight each others through sowing the seeds of hatred between different sects. He said that the vested interests were out to pit Sunni against Shiite for serving their own nefarious designs. “We have to fight our enemies jointly and at all costs,” he said and added though it was a difficult task but the journey of thousands of miles could be overcome with taking the first step towards destination.