GILGIT, Dec 20: Two arch rivals have decided to bury the hatchet and pledged to fight sectarianism jointly to make Gilgit-Balbistan region peaceful.

Former adviser on food and agriculture Syed Raziuddin Rizvi and member of Northern Areas Legislative Assembly Himayatullah Khan at a press conference embraced each other and vowed to work for peace, tranquility and sectarian harmony, describing the moment as “historic”.

They said Islam was a religion of love and peace and urged the people to follow its teachings for peace.

They appreciated the efforts of the Grand Peace Jirga and the local administration in resolving their differences and making them sit together.

Allama Attaullah Shahab, Inayatullah Shumali, Syed Yahya Shah and Moulvi Nazirullah also spoke on the occasion and stressed the need for unity and harmony among various schools of thought for the prosperity and development of Gilgit-Baltistan.

The country cannot afford sectarian disharmony at this crucial moment in the history of the country and needed an amicable environment to deal with the ongoing situation.

Both leaders have been rivals for over a decade and enemy of each other. Elder brother of Mr Rizvi and religious scholar Aga Ziauddin was assassinated on Jan 8, 2005 and Himayatullah was suspected to be behind the murder.—Correspondent