|
World News |
|
|
|
|
Sport News |
|
|
|
Archive |
-
July, 2015
-
June, 2015
-
May, 2015
-
April, 2015
-
March, 2015
-
February, 2015
-
January, 2015
-
December, 2014
-
November, 2014
-
October, 2014
|
|
|
|
|
Bhatti announces setting up of National Interfaith Council |
|
|
|
|
ISLAMABAD, July 12 (APP): Minister for Minorities Affairs Shahbaz Bhatti announced on Monday to set up a National Interfaith Council aimed at promoting brotherhood, harmony and co-existence among various sects and faiths. “The council would be formally established after the holy month of Ramazan,” he said while talking to media after attending a national interfaith consultation conference organized by the Ministry of Minorities Affairs.
More than 50 Ulema, scholars and
intellectuals from different schools of thought and faiths attended the
conference and strongly condemned the incidents of terrorism taking
place in the country.
The minister reading out a joint
declaration issued at the conclusion of the seminar, said,”It is need
of the day that all patriotic citizens, including leaders of various
faiths and denominations should join hands for promoting interfaith
harmony and defeating the conspirators and anti-state elements.”
The session unanimously decided to
launch a country-wide campaign to promote interfaith harmony and ensure
peaceful co-existence under the umbrella of ministry by taking along
scholars, religious leaders, intellectuals and human rights activists.
The declaration said,” no religion
of the world allows taking lives of innocent people by carrying out
subversive activities so We all condemn the acts of extremism and
terrorism declaring them Haram (forbidden.)”
It said terrorist attacks on
religious places, shrines, schools, hospitals, state institutions,
offices of law enforcement agencies, public and private buildings were
the worst examples of barbaric acts.
The interfaith session appreciated
the role of Pakistan Army and law enforcement agencies in the war
against terrorism, assuring its full support to the government in
uprooting this menace.
The declaration also underlined
the need for exhibiting national unity to ensure peace and stability in
the country, suggesting to ban publishing of hatred material.
It also demanded that the subject of interfaith harmony should be made part of curriculum at appropriate levels.
According to the declaration,
blood banks would be established across the country to ensure provision
of blood for innocent victims of terrorism with the commitment to
motivate people to donate blood.
Responding to a question, Shahbaz
Bhatti said a hotline would also be set up in the ministry to listen to
the problems of minorities living in the country.
Bhatti said round-the-clock
operating hotline would be connected with all police stations to ensure
immediate response to the calls of minorities, seeking any kind of help
or protection.
Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani would inaugurate the hotline at the end of this month, he added.
Besides, he said committees would
be established in all districts of the country to promote interfaith
harmony and national solidarity, failing the nefarious designs of the
anti-state elements fanning sectarianism.
The minister said the committees
would keep an eye in surroundings of their respective localities and
hold monthly meetings with district coordination officers. “Reports of
every meeting would be sent to the concerned quarters for necessary
action,” he added.
|
|
|
|
|
Grievance Commissioner Wafaqi Mohtasib |
|
|
|
Presidential address to the joint sitting of parliament |
|
|
|
