ISLAMABAD, June 23: Chairman of the All Parties Minorities Alliance (APMA) Shahbaz Bhatti has demanded of the government to abolish the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) and establish an “Inter-Religion Council.” In a statement here on Thursday, the APMA chairman said the establishment of the Inter-Religion Council would promote religious tolerance, inter-communal unity and integrity among the multi-religious society of Pakistan. “It will also play a vital role to promote dialogue among civilizations to avoid any future clash,” he added.

Mr Bhatti said the CII only advocated and presented Islamic point of view. He said there was no representation of non-Muslims in the council and there was no institution parallel to the CII for minorities, where they could express their views and recommendations. Therefore, he said, the proposed Inter-Religion Council would provide an opportunity to Muslims and non-Muslims together to express their points of view and develop united consensus on important issues.

The APMA chief was of the view that non-Muslim citizens of Pakistan were playing important role in the development, prosperity and integrity of the country. He said it was equally important to take views, opinions and consent of minorities while proposing recommendations and legislations that directly or indirectly affected them.

Mr Bhatti emphasized that the proposed Inter-Religion Council should have representation of all religions of Pakistan to develop united and representative platform. This council, he said, should be in a position to review all discriminatory laws and articles based on religious discrimination, hatred and gender biasness.