‘All faiths must work for religious harmony’

Minister says morality, human rights essential components of every religion

LAHORE:

Punjab Minister for Human Rights and Minorities Affairs (HR&MA) Ejaz Alam Augustine on Tuesday said morality and human rights were an essential component of every religion.

He expressed these views while addressing a gathering of scholars from a different school of thoughts at the camp office of the Human Rights department in connection with upcoming ‘International Human Rights Day’.

Speaking on the said today’s gathering would spread the message of unity and harmony among the nation. The minister said that people of all faiths must work together to promote religious harmony among the nation. He added that upcoming International Human Rights Day reminds us to perform the proactive role to safeguard the rights of everyone and Pakistan can become an example of love, sacrifice. He said that Ulema and Mashaikh had a very great responsibility to improve the religious harmony among people of the country, adding that the role of religious scholars in eliminating religious hatred could not be ignored.

“We have to work together to make Pakistan welfare state as per thoughts of Quaid-i-Azam and Allama Iqbal,” he mentioned. Other speakers also expressed their views and agreed upon that joint national narrative as per the Islamic teachings and constitution of Pakistan is necessary to counter terrorism and promote peace in the country.

They also said that all the stakeholders, including religious scholars from all schools of thought, were on the same page and immensely desire development and prosperity of the country.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 9^th, 2020.