Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Saturday said Pakistan wants to end visa restrictions with India. Addressing the inaugural session of fourth International Alhamra Literary and Culture Conference at a certificate distribution ceremony, Sharif said that a chance must be given to Pak-India talks again after general elections in India. "We want better relations with India and we have never used slogans against them during our election campaign," the PM added.
Appreciating Bangladeshi writers' participation in the conference, he said "we should not forget our history as we can make our future bright by learning from mistakes made in past." The Prime Minister said Islam teaches tolerance but the protection of Islamic culture is also very important.
Our reporter JALIL HASSAN AKHTAR from Lahore adds: The PM said his government would achieve success in resolving economic issues and elimination of terrorism from the country. Dilating on the strength and effects of Muslim culture, he said its positivity was felt throughout the world. The Prime Minister asked all institutions, media and society to follow a uniform policy, play their role and refrain from politicising national issues. He averred that the conference would be instrumental in the removal of misconception regarding our religion.
Referring to the role of Khilafat-e-Rashida and the Ottoman empire, he said these had promoted true Islamic culture. Appreciating the role of Muslim scholars, the PM said they enlightened the entire world with their knowledge. Speaking about strong points of foreign policies of the country, he said Pakistan was maintaining relations of cordiality with China, Iran and other neighbouring countries. With reference to Afghanistan, he said ties with Kabul were also improving.
The PM said Pakistan also wanted better and cordial relations with India by settling all the issues, including Kashmir dispute through a dialogue. Referring to firing incidents on the Line of Control (LoC), he said such incidents were not good for both the countries. He said his party had never resorted India-bashing during its election campaign. However, Pakistan-bashing was still going on in India during election campaign, he pointed out.
Mentioning his meeting with the then Indian PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 1999, he said Vajpayee had showed a firm resolve to settle all the issues in an amicable way. Mentioning the laurels of Muslims, he said amazing technological developments owed their origins to Muslim scientists, mathematicians and worthy scholars. He said they were lucky to have Hakeem-ul-Ummat Allama Iqbal born in that part of the world. He averred that the great scholar comprehended problems of the Muslim Ummah and awakened them by highlighting the Islamic ideology and culture through his poetry and writings.
Nawaz Sharif described poets and literary personalities as assets of the country. "They are doing a great service by reforming the mindset and behaviour pattern of people," he added. The Prime Minister announced a Rs 20 million grant for the construction of a modern club for poets and literary persons on the occasion. He was presented a book by Keval Dheer, a renowned story writer. The PM and Lahore Arts Council Chairman Atta-ul-Haq also exchanged shields in the conference.
Earlier, Atta-ul-Haq Qasmi presented a welcome address while former Justice Dr Javed Iqbal, Dr Ali Bayat from Iran, Ibrahim Muhammad Ibrahim Al-Misri from Egypt, Dr Abdul Wahid from Bangladesh, Professor Locasword from Germany, Editor Daily Times of India King Sukh Naz and Dr Naumanul Haq spoke on the "Bright Face of Muslim Culture: Its Past, Present and Future." A large number of literary persons from all wall walks of life were present on the occasion.