LAHORE: President Dr Arif Alvi on Friday asked India to learn from Pakistan the value of peace and the importance of respecting and protecting minorities, expressing his concern over what he described as the “game of religion” being played in New Delhi.

Speaking at the National Interfaith Peace Conference held here at a local hotel, he said India should realise that it becomes hard to put off the fire of communal hatred when it goes out of hands. “That India crosses all limits in religious hatred is tragic. I have never talked to my relatives in India on telephone because of the fear that anything could get any twist,” he said.

The president said that during the recent tension between Islamabad and New Delhi, every Pakistani wanted peace, whereas hatred was being promoted in India. “This indicated that we have learnt from history while India has not. We are proud of our leadership, especially Prime Minister Imran Khan who showed to India how to treat minorities,” he said.

He said it was the duty of the leadership to move the nation forward during any turbulence. The prime minister of New Zealand should be saluted for what she did after the massacre in a mosque. He said he condoled with the Sri Lankan president after the recent acts of terrorism there. “I told him that we (Pakistanis) faced pain of terrorism more than any other nation,” he added.

The president said sectarianism or communal friction would not be tolerated. Religion never stoked terrorism or unrest anywhere as every religion teaches peace and love.

Quoting Prophet Muha­mmad (peace be upon him), he said Islam teaches forgiving others and forbids backbiting, which forms basis of hatred. “Nowadays, social media has become a big source of backbiting and rumour-mongering,” he added.

The president said that sharing something without a reference to the context promoted hatred in society. He said hatred would never be tolerated in Pakistan as followers of all religions enjoy equal rights in the country.

MNA Shanila Ruth, Hindu religious leader Haroon Dayal, Bishop of Peshawar Humphrey Sarfaraz Peter, Sikh leader Bishan Singh, Bahai leader Dr Romani Mughredi, Bishop of Lahore Sebestian Francis Shaw and Muslim scholar Abdul Khabir Azad addressed the conference.

Later, the president lit the ‘candle of peace’ in the conference.

Published in Dawn, April 27th, 2019