LAHORE: A peace conference, held by the World Council of Religion on Wednesday, emphasised the need to eliminate sectarian violence and maintain peace during Muharram.
The council organised a moot with the title “Unity for Peace Conference” at a local hotel in Lahore, which was attended by government ministers and religious figures.
Punjab government spokesperson Malik Ahmad Khan, Punjab Schools Education Minister Rana Mashhood and Provincial Minister for Excise and Taxation Mian Mujtaba Shuja-Ur-Rehman were chief guests at the event. Leaders from all sects including Barelvi, Deobandi, Ahl-e-Hadith, Shia, and other scholars attended the conference. Malik Ahmad Khan spoke at the occasion, stressing that maintaining peace during Muhrram was a shared-responsibility. He urged all scholars to unite for Pakistan by leaving inter-sect differences behind.
“Establishing peace is among the top priorities of the government so that all segments of society could feel safe in the country,” he added.
Shuja-ur-Rehman, addressed the conference, and claimed that it wasnt inter-sect differences but terrorism that was the real problem. Stressing harmony among the followers of all the religions and sects in the country, he made an appeal to the masses not to change their faith and force others to change theirs. “Social media is helping negative elements in the promotion of hate” the minister said that the government would soon introduce effective laws to counter this issue. Rana Mashhood also spoke at the occasion and revealed that the government was about to bring major changes in curriculum to eliminate intolerance – starting from the most basic level. “The government will organise a grand conference on interfaith harmony ahead of Muharram that will see participation from all religions and sects the province” Mashhood announced.
Hafiz Muhammad Nouman, Executive Director of WCR-Pakistan, said that the month of Muharram is for all Muslims no matter which group they belong to and therefore respecting the sanctity of Muharram is binding on all.
Published in Daily Times, September 14th 2017.
