ISLAMABAD: Almost all the speakers at a seminar on Tuesday talked about interfaith harmony, but a voice of dissent sent a ripple through the gathering.

Scholars, diplomats and people belonging to different faiths participated in a seminar on: ‘Islam and Minorities Rights’, which was organised by All Pakistan Minorities Alliance (APMA).

The speakers were of the view that all religions believed in peace. But when came the turn of the Member National Assembly (MNA), Dr Ramesh Kumar, the president of Pakistan Hindu Council, who demanded that the issues faced by minorities should be discussed first.

This sent a tension across the organisers, the speakers and the participants.

Dr Kumar, who belongs to PML-N, said although Islam allowed every man and woman to practice his/her religion, still a number of persons were being killed in the name of religion and converted to Islam forcibly.

“This month, in Larkana (Sindh), Mandir and Dharamshala were burnt for the fault of one insane person who might have done blasphemy, but religious scholars failed to condemn it. Minor Hindu and Christian girls are being converted to Islam by force,” he said.

“According to Liaquat-Nehru Pact (signed in New Delhi on April 8, 1950), in Pakistan, a Hindu should be appointed as head of the Evacuee Trust Property Board because most of the properties belonged to Hindu community but the pact has not been implemented,” he said.

Dr Kumar said the minorities should have their own curriculum.

President of APMA Dr Paul Bhatti, however, said that participants had gathered here for inter-faith harmony.

He suggested that being an MNA, Dr Kumar should raise the issues concerning him at the floor of the Parliament House.

Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Sardar Mohammad Yousaf said every one should be allowed to practice his religion.

“Both teaching of Islam and constitution of Pakistan protects property and rights of the people belonging to other faiths,” he said.

Khateeb Badshahi Mosque Maulana Abdul Khabeer Azad last year 65 persons died during attack on church in Peshawar but Muslims participated in their burials and showed solidarity with them.

Bishop of Lahore Church Irfan Jamil said that now time has come to end concept of majority and minority.

“Christians have been playing their role in the development of the country. Issues should be resolved through dialogue rather than violence,” he said.

Dr Paul Bhatti said that the purpose of the seminar was to end hatred and violence in the society.

“It was encouraging that after the attack on church in Peshawar, Muslims stood by the Christians and when blasphemous movie was released Christians showed solidarity with Muslims,” he said.