ISLAMABAD, Dec 12 (APP): Minister for Interior and Narcotics Control Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan Monday said the scheme of government of Bhatariya Janata Party (BJP) to divide Pakistan was a lunatic’s dream that would never be fulfilled.

Reacting to the threat of Indian Interior Minister Rajnath Singh, the Interior Minister said in the presence of BJP, nobody else has to make an effort to divide India on the basis of religion.

He said Pakistan was not dividing India on the basis of religion but it was getting divided due to policies of the BJP government.

How a party and government in India which was based on religious fanaticism, divisiveness, hate and violence, can level allegations against Pakistan, he asked.

He said Indian government could not talk of terrorism as its hands were stained with the blood of Kashmiris and state oppression was its policy.

Those who were calling for Hindu Muslim brotherhood should look at their past and present and see how the state machinery was used to shed blood of Kashmiris and how Muslims, Dalits, Christians and other minorities were denied rights in India, he added.

The minister said reality was that at present, under the BJP government all minorities were in great danger and fearful as life was made difficult for them.

The government of India created a wall of hate among different religions for its nefarious designs, he added.

Chaudhry Nisar said India had turned into a battlefield and incident of Babri Masjid and anti-Muslim and anti minorities riots in India in the last few years were clear indication of the present government’s political and official policy.

He said under state patronage, opponents were tortured, faces of people were blackened and minorities were killed in India.

These anti-minority policies of the Indian government had scared Muslims and other minorities, he added.

Chaudhry Nisar said the cause of terrorism was not Pakistan but
India where human rights were violated and oppression and violence, and religious hatred were part of state policy.

Instead of criticising Pakistan, he said India should focus on those organizations which were spreading hatred, religious prejudice
and committing genocide of minorities.

Nisar said India admitted that it openly interfered in Balochistan and other parts of the country.

The arrest of Kulbhushan Yadav and other agents was a clear proof of this interference but it was unfortunate that the international community was silent on this provocation and open meddling, he added.

The Interior Minister said Pakistan wanted peace and the domination of India and violent policies of present Indian government were not acceptable and on this matter the Pakistani nation was united.

Today if the rulers of India open their eyes, then they could see that their policies were dividing India and uniting the Pakistani nation against these policies, he added.

LAHORE, Dec 12 (APP): Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif Monday urged the religious scholars of the country to guide the state as well as the society as how a modern Islamic state could be established in light of golden principles provided by Madina Charter and the state institutions be reformed accordingly.

Addressing the International Seerat-un-Nabi Conference held here on the occasion of Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi commemorating the birth of Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him), the prime minister said unfortunately, we have developed prejudices in the religion and made it a symbol of fear instead of following it as model for peace and guidance.

Hosted by the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony, the theme of this year’s Seerat-un-Nabi Conference was ‘Interfaith Harmony in the light of teachings of Islam and Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him).’

Started by the recitation of Quranic verses by renowned Qari Sadaqat Ali, the conference was attended by Minister for Religious Affairs Sardar Muhammad Yousuf, Minister of State Pir Amin-ul-Hasnaat, President of the Presidency of Religious Affairs of Turkey Mehmet Gormez, State Minister of Maldives Ali Waheed, parliamentarians, delegates from 11 countries and religious leaders of different faiths.

Prominent Naat Khawan Noor Muhammad Jarral recited the Naat highlighting blessings of the Holy Prophet (PBUH).

The prime minister said unfortunately, we have confined the scope of the blessings of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) who came to this world as blessing for the whole universe.

He said in the past, humans were decapitated in the name of religions but during its last three years, the government had dismantled the terrorists’ havens to a great extent following the remarkable sacrifices by armed forces, civilians and the government’s efforts.

However, he urged the religious scholars to play their due role to also bring an end to the mindset promoting extremism in the country.

“We have to re-establish the nexus of Islam and peace. We have to regain our identity,” the prime minister remarked.

The prime minister said the Holy Prophet (PBUH) gave humanity the roadmap for success in the world and the life hereafter.

He said the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and later his companions always stood for truth and now we have been entrusted with this responsibility.

He also apprised the audience as how the Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) established an Islamic state and signed Misaq-e-Madinah (Madina Charter) that had been remembered as the first written constitution binding the state and citizens to a code of conduct.

Prime Minister Sharif said the Holy Prophet (PBUH) delivered a historic sermon in Mecca and gave the world a charter for human rights in which Prophet said there could be no distinction among humans on the basis of colour and race.

He said today after 1400 years, the world was unanimous to recognize that constitution and charter of humanity was inevitable to run the state’s affairs.

He said the foremost fundamental of an Islamic society was the respect for humanity what the Holy Prophet (PBUH) said was tantamount to respecting Holy Kaaba.

The premier said we need to examine ourselves against the teachings of the Holy Prophet as whether we followed the state constitution, respected the humanity, developed justice-based society and established ties with other faiths under Madina Charter.

He said in order to cope worth modern day challenges we had to move forward but have to look back to the Madina Charter and teachings of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) for guidance.

Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Sardar Yousuf, in his address, said the two day international conference attended by prominent Muslim and non-Muslim leaders manifested the need of interfaith harmony.

He said the conference comprised of four sessions including competition of writing books and papers on Seerat-un-Nabi, Mehfil-e-Husn-e-Qirat and the international conference.

He said out of 59 books on Seerat-un-Nabi, 19 were shortlisted for prize while 36 papers were selected for prize out of 91 received by the jury.

He also highlighted the achievements of his ministry including the holding of Roza (fasting) and Eid-ul-Fitr throughout the country on same day and other efforts to bring different faiths closer to one and other.

President of the Presidency of Religious Affairs of Turkey Mehmet Gormez and Minister of State Pir Ami-ul-Hasnaat also addressed the conference.

ISLAMABAD, Dec 12 (APP): Chief of Army Staff General Qamar
Javed Bajwa spent his day at Corps Headquarters Peshawar on Monday
for an in depth briefing on current state of security operations and
the way forward in FATA, KPK and Malakand Divisions.

Appreciating the gains of counter terrorism operations so far,
he said that focus must remain on indiscriminate IBOs, combing ops
for stabilisation and consolidation.

“Nexus between terrorists in remote areas and their facilitators in urban centres will be severed whatever the amount of effort and time.

Having created conditions for governance and socio- eco reforms, Army will stand by our valiant tribals and work with the government to bring about an equitable development across FATA for peace and prosperity in the entire region,” he added.

COAS also reviewed progress towards border management and directed to expedite all construction work and capacity building of
FC to effectively check all illegal cross border movement.

He was also apprised about concentration of terrorists across the border in Afghanistan and their continued efforts for an activity inside Pakistan.

COAS observed that for optimum effect of sealing their movement either side, border management will have to be bilateral both by Pakistan and Afghanistan on their respective sides.

COAS particularly emphasised on progress of return of TDPs and
directed completion of their dignified return.

He said, TDPs must be helped to resettle in their native towns with social infrastructure in place in conjunction with the civil government.

Earlier on arrival at Peshawar, COAS was received by Lt Gen Hidayat ur Rehman, Corps Comd 11 Corps.

ISLAMABAD, Dec 12 (APP): The 32nd Annual General Meeting and Conference of the Pakistan Society of Development Economists (PSDE) will begin on Tuesday.

The theme of the PSDE’s this year’s Conference is “China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and Regional Integration”.

The Conference will be inaugurated by Federal Minister for Planning Development, and Reform, Ahsan Iqbal who is also the patron of PSDE.

The three-day long Conference is being organized by the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE), with the support of Ministry of Planning, Development and Reform and various international organizations.

This year the PSDE’s Conference is being held on the important theme of CPEC and Regional Integration because this multi-faceted mega project is expected to be a game-changer not only for the people of Pakistan but also for the entire region by improving cross-country and regional connectivity from Gwadar to Xinjiang.

The project activities are expected to galvanize Pakistan’s economy and propel it onto a higher growth trajectory by lowering transactions costs, improving productivity, encouraging research and development, and spurring innovation.

It is believed that the project will help strengthen the strategic relationship between China and Pakistan and bring lasting prosperity to the peoples of both countries.

The three-day long Conference will address several issues related to its theme, including the Chinese Economy, Domestic and Regional Political Economy, Role of Connectivity and Infrastructure Development in Regional Integration, Labor Market Dynamics of CPEC, Role of Productivity, Quality, and Innovation in Making CPEC work for Pakistan, and Socio-Economic Impacts of CPEC, among others.

The Quaid-i-Azam Lecture, the most prestigious lecture of the PSDE’s Conference every year, is being delivered on the theme of “Domestic and Regional Political Economy”.

LAHORE, Dec 12 (APP): Federal Minister for Religious Affairs, Sardar Muhammad Yousaf here Monday chaired National Ulema, Mashaikh Council’s meeting, in which several recommendations were presented for elimination  of sectarianism, promotion of harmony, and improvement in educational syllabus.

Steering Committee headed by Maulana Hanif Jalandhry and Syllabus Committee headed by Mufti Muneebur Rehman presented the recommendations  of their respective committees.

The Minister said that National Ulema and Mashaikh Council was formed with prime objective of elimination of sectarianism and promotion
of harmony for peace in the society. In its first meeting, he mentioned,
the Council had constituted two committees, which had given very fruitful and comprehensive proposals on the above mentioned issues.

He asked all the Council members to study thoroughly the committees’ recommendations and submit their reservations/suggestions within 15 days,  so that these recommendations could be given a final shape in the next Council’s meeting.

National Ulema, Mashaikh Council’s meeting would be held after every three months, he added.

Sardar Yousaf also appreciated the federal and provincial  governments, and the Council for playing an active role in holding of two-day International Seerat Conference attended by a large number of
Muslim and Non-Muslim scholars across the country and abroad.

He said that Conference was very successful with regard to achievement of its objectives and goals.

Sardar Yousaf mentioned that Qiraat Conference was also arranged on
the sidelines of the International Seerat Conference at Badshai Mosque.

ISLAMABAD, Dec 12 (APP): Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif has said that the Eid Milad-un-Nabi (Peace Be Upon Him) remind us about the golden principles of Islam which were practically illustrated in the life of Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH).

“This day make us to retrospect over the significance of lofty values of sacrifice, tolerance, brotherhood and unity among the Ummah,” he said in a message on the occasion of 12th Rabiul Awwal.

Felicitating the Ummah on the august day, the Prime Minister said the Muslims could succeed by following the supreme teachings of Hazrat Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him).

He said 12th Rabiul Awwal had also completely ended a history of inhumanity, oppression, tyranny, ignorance, injustice and deviation from the right path by purifying the human civilization with ideals of dignity, sanctity of culture, widening the scope of knowledge and thinking, and characteristic of forgiveness.

The Prime Minister observed that the holy month of Rabiul Awwal was the month of love and affection for the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him). Pakistan had always been a land of affection and devoted followers.

He stressed that sublime way of life led by Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) should be followed fully at the individual and collective levels.

“On this day, we should reiterate our resolve to work for the progress and prosperity of the nation and the motherland,” he added.

He urged the nation to stand with the armed forces of the country that had been offering grand sacrifices in the Operation Zarb-e- Azb and on other fronts.