PESHAWAR, Oct 2: Speakers at a function here on Tuesday stressed the need for promoting interfaith harmony to establish lasting peace in the province.
Addressing the oath taking ceremony of the newly elected cabinet members of National Peace Committee for Interfaith Harmony (NPCIH), they urged the followers of different religions and sects to forge unity to foil the conspiracies being hatched against them.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Religious and Minorities Affairs Haji Nimroz Khan was chief guest on the occasion. NPCIH chairman Allama Mohammad Shoaib, senior vice chairman Saifullah Khan, general secretary Pastor Yousaf Patras, Prof Taskeen Ahmad Khan, Maulana Nisar Bacha, Syed Mehmoodul Hassan, Sardar Charan Jeet Singh and Muzaffar Akhunzada addressed the ceremony.
Allama Shoaib said that NPCIH had played pivotal role for establishment of peace and promotion of interfaith harmony in the region. He called upon religious scholars to play their due role in that connection. He said that promotion of interfaith harmony at province level was the best way to counter anti-peace forces.
Mehmoodul Hassan said that peace could be established only by adopting the path of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH). “Islam is a religion of peace, tolerance and brotherhood. It has great respect for other religions,” he added.
He called upon the government, United Nations and human rights organisations to take notice of the growing anti-Islam conspiracies that were hurting sentiments of Muslims.Maulana Nisar said that all conspiracies against Islam and other religions could be foiled with the help of unity. “Peace is only solution to all our problems,” he said, adding that promotion of interfaith harmony was must for establishment of lasting peace in the region.
Muzaffar Akhunzada said that all religions gave a message of peace, tolerance and brotherhood but a third force didn’t want peace and stability in the Muslim world.
Pastor Yousaf said that all religions were against terrorism and in favour of peace. But some anti-religions forces were involved in creating turbulent situation in the region, he added. “We condemn all forms of terrorism as it is against humanity and forbidden in our religion,” he said.
Sardar Charan Jeet Singh also condemned anti-Islam acts and said that such steps were aimed at creating instability and causing clashes among followers of different religions.
He said that they had serious concern over making of sacrilegious movie, which was disgusting and un-Islamic act. “No religion in the world is allowed to desecrate other religions,” he added. He said that the people involved in the filmmaking, directly or indirectly, should be awarded exemplary punishment.
Haji Nimroz Khan said that government had taken proactive steps for establishment of peace in the province. He said that Awami National Party rendered sacrifices for restoration of peace. He said that terrorists were targeting his party because it raised voice for peace and stability.
“Terrorists don’t spare worship places, schools, peace jirga, funerals and public places as they want to create instability and jeopardise the efforts of government,” the minister said.
He said that they would continue to fight against terrorists till establishment of lasting peace in the province. He stressed the need for making joint efforts to eliminate terrorism from the region and restore sustainable peace.
The minister condemned the anti-Islam movie and said that Pakistan was the only Muslim country that raised the issue during the meeting of United Nations General Assembly last week. He urged followers of different religions and sects to forge unity to foil all such conspiracies.