A peace conference, held under the aegis of World Council of Religion, emphasised the need to eliminate sectarian violence and maintain peace during the holy month of Muharram-ul-Haram. The council organised a moot with a title "Unity for Peace Conference" at a local hotel in Lahore on Thursday which was attended by ministers and religious figures.
The Punjab government spokesperson, Malik Ahmad Khan, Punjab Schools Education Minister Rana Mashhood and Provincial Minister for Excise & Taxation Mian Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman were the chief guests. Leaders and scholars from all the sects including Barelvi, Deobandi, Ahl-e-Hadith and Shia attended the conference.
Malik Ahmad Khan said that maintaining peace during Muharram was a shared responsibility. He urged all scholars to unite for Pakistan by leaving all the differences behind. "Establishing peace is among top priorities of the government so that all segments of the society could feel them safe in the country," he added.
Provincial Minister for Excise & Taxation Mian Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman, while addressing the conference stressed harmony among followers of all the religions and sects in the country and made an appeal to the masses not to change their faiths and force others to change theirs. "Social media is helping the negative elements to promote hatemongering," the minister said while informing that the government would soon introduce effective laws to counter this issue.
Rana Mashhood, on the occasion, 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 of the province," Mashhood announced.
Other speakers who stressed the need of unity included Mohammad Yasin Zafar, Secretary General Wafaq-ul-Madaris Salfia Pakistan, journalist Sajjad Mir, Syed Qazi Niaz Hussain, vice-president Wafaqul Madaris Shia, Syed Ziaullah Shah Bukhari, President Jamiat Ahle Hadis, Dr Samiha, member of Islamic Ideology Council, Muhammad Nadeem Sarwar Maawia, Chairman of United Peace Forum, Allama Hassan Mehdani, vice-president Majlis-e-Wahdat-al- Muslimeen and others.
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