Interfaith conference issues declaration against terror

ISLAMABAD: Delegates at a national interfaith peace conference on Sunday voiced unequivocal support for the government’s efforts to eliminate terrorism and condemned the spate of attacks on religious shrines, mosques, schools, hospitals and offices of law-enforcement agencies and other state institutions.

The delegates also stressed the need for exhibiting national unity to ensure peace and stability in the country.

The conference was organised by the ministry of minorities affairs in collaboration with the Interfaith Council for Peace and Harmony. Over 100 Ulema, scholars and intellectuals from different schools of thought and faiths attended the conference and strongly condemned the terrorist incidents taking place in the country.

The conference passed a joint declaration which reads, “It is the need of the time that all patriotic citizens, including leaders of various faiths, should join hands to promote interfaith harmony and defeat plots of anti-state elements.”

It said that no religion sanctioned the killing of innocent people through subversive activities. “We condemn the acts of extremism and terrorism, declaring them haram (forbidden),” it added.

It says terrorist attacks on religious places, shrines, schools, hospitals, state institutions, offices of law-enforcement agencies, public and private buildings are the worst examples of the barbaric acts.

The conference appreciated the role of the Pakistan Army and law-enforcement agencies in the war against terrorism, assuring full support to the government in uprooting this menace.

Speaking on the occasion, Hamilton, a religious scholar from the US, said that he always spoke about the beautiful people of Pakistan. “But unfortunately the media always highlights negative news about Pakistan,” he added. Minister for Minority Affairs Shahbaz Bhatti also spoke on the occasion.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 26^th, 2010.